Judge reconstructs her mother's murder, robbery and dismemberment

The court order concerning the Corralejo homicide points to qualified murder and fraud. The Instruction Court of Puerto del Rosario has ordered the pre‑trial detention, communicated and without bail, of a 22‑year‑old suspect accused of killing his mother in Corralejo, siphoning money from her accounts, and discarding the body’s remains in nearby waste containers.

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Key Findings of the Investigation

• The suspect transferred €3,000 from his mother’s bank account.
• Part of the money was used to purchase a reciprocating saw and cleaning supplies.
• After the alleged murder, he dismembered the body and threw the fragments into containers close to the house.
• Surveillance footage, bank records, purchase receipts, eyewitness statements, and an on‑site inspection were instrumental in reconstructing the crime.

“He went to the family home ‘with the intention of ending the victim’s life and obtaining money that she had refused to give him’,” the judge wrote, emphasizing that the description is indicative and not a final judgment.

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The Role of Cameras and Bank Movements

Security cameras captured the suspect’s movements before and after the crime. Bank statements revealed the €3,000 transfer from the victim’s account to the suspect’s account. The funds were partially spent in the early hours of the morning on a reciprocating saw and cleaning products, tools later linked to the dismemberment.

The court’s reconstruction relied on:

• Surveillance video showing the suspect entering and leaving the residence.
• Bank transaction logs confirming the illegal transfers.
• Purchase invoices for the saw and cleaning materials.
• Forensic inspection of the house and the waste containers where body parts were found.

The judge also noted the possible involvement of a third, unidentified person, and highlighted that some of the alleged tools have not yet been recovered, raising concerns about evidence destruction if the suspect were released.

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Alleged Motive and Timeline

According to the judicial report, the events unfolded on May 3:

1. A heated argument erupted inside the home.
2. The suspect allegedly assaulted his mother with extreme violence, resulting in her death.
3. He then performed several bank transfers totaling €3,000 from her account to his own.
4. Using the newly acquired saw, he dismembered the corpse, disposed of the fragments in nearby containers, and cleaned the scene.

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Potential Sentence

Legally, the judge identified qualified murder with aggravating circumstances such as treachery, cruelty, and the intent to facilitate another crime, alongside a continuing fraud offense for the illegal transfers.

• Qualified murder in Spain can carry a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.
• The fraud charge adds further imprisonment time.

The judge justified the provisional detention by citing:

• The gravity of the offenses and the severe penalties they entail.
• The suspect’s limited family ties and personal circumstances, which increase the risk of flight.
• The danger of evidence tampering if he were released.

The precautionary measure was ordered under Article 505 of the Criminal Procedure Law, at the prosecution’s request, due to the assessed risk of flight and destruction of evidence.

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The investigation continues, and the suspect remains in custody pending trial.