Investigators from the National Police are probing the death of a priest found inside his Valencia apartment, at a location near the Archdiocese building. The lifeless body showed signs suggesting drowning, with burn marks evident. The discovery was made on Tuesday morning at a residence on Avellanas Street, close to the cathedral complex where the cleric served.
The body was located after a doorman alerted people who entered with keys, accompanied by someone acquainted with the priest who sought help because the priest had not answered calls for several days. Upon entering, they found the priest unresponsive in his bed, and authorities began determining the cause of death, which remains under investigation.
Who sent the last message?
Information obtained by the National Police indicates that the deceased or someone using his mobile phone may have sent a message indicating he would be away for a week. Investigators are pursuing this lead because it could explain the circumstances surrounding the death, given how the body was discovered.
The body, after a forensic assessment, is expected to be removed to allow an autopsy. The Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences is scheduled to travel to Valencia to perform the autopsy, which may not occur until Wednesday.
Scientific police officers are also inspecting the residence for footprints or other traces. A second person connected to the case, reportedly a resident of Valencia, is being considered in relation to the cleric’s activities in the area.
Alfonso López Benito, a canon of the collegiate church of St. Bartholomew the Apostle and St. Michael the Archangel since 1999 in Valencia, was ordained in 1969. He held a Doctor of Canon Law from the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome and taught at the Valencian Institute of Legal Studies and the Canon Law School. He also served at the Ecclesiastical Court of the Archdiocese of Valencia and authored numerous books.
Earlier in his career, he served as a priest in various communities and held a professorship in canon law, contributing to the Church’s legal education in the region.
The Archdiocese expressed its sorrow
The Archdiocese of Valencia released a brief statement upon learning of the death of Alfonso López Benito, noting the involvement of the National Police and the media. It expressed sadness over the priest’s passing and offered cooperation to the authorities to help clarify the facts. The archdiocese affirmed its readiness to assist as needed to support the investigation and the community during this difficult time.