Young Man Accused of Killing Mother in Corralejo Held Without Bail

Detained Pending Trial

The Court of Instruction in Puerto del Rosario (Fuerteventura) ordered on Monday that the 22‑year‑old suspect be placed in provisional detention, communicated and without bail. He is being investigated for the alleged commission of a qualified murder and a continuous fraud related to the violent death of his mother in Corralejo, La Oliva municipality. The victim’s body was discovered on Friday, May 8, at the Zurita landfill.

According to the communications office of the Superior Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (TSJC), the precautionary measure follows the appearance required by article 505 of the Criminal Procedure Law and at the request of the Public Prosecutor, who identified a risk of flight and of evidence destruction.

The investigation indicates, without prejudice to the outcome of the proceedings, that the alleged events occurred on May 3 when the suspect allegedly went to the family home “with the intention of ending the victim’s life and obtaining money that she had refused to give him.”

Inside the house, a dispute allegedly escalated into an extremely violent assault. After the woman’s death, the suspect is said to have made several bank transfers from the victim’s account to his own, totaling €3,000.

Alleged Use of the Money

• Part of the funds was reportedly spent on expenses incurred during the early morning hours.
• Purchases included a radial saw allegedly used to dismember the body, as well as cleaning products.

The suspect is alleged to have returned to the residence to dismember the corpse with the saw, disposing of the remains in containers near the house, cleaning the crime scene, and discarding some of the tools used.

Evidence Cited by the Court

• Witness testimonies
• Security‑camera footage
• Bank transaction records
• Purchase receipts (including the saw and cleaning supplies)
• On‑site inspection of the dwelling
• Findings at the landfill
• The suspect’s own statement
• A reconstruction of the events

The ruling also mentions possible involvement of a third, as‑yet‑unidentified person. Some of the items allegedly used in the crime have not yet been recovered, reinforcing the court’s view that the risk of evidence destruction remains high if the suspect were released.

From a legal standpoint, the judge preliminarily considers the facts could constitute qualified murder with aggravating circumstances such as treachery, cruelty, and the intent to facilitate another crime, in addition to a continuous fraud for the unauthorized transfers from the victim’s account.

The court examined the allegation of drug consumption and, at this early stage, found insufficient evidence to determine that it significantly impaired the suspect’s capacity at the time of the crime. Moreover, the indications suggest that any drug use would not negate the apparent pre‑meditation, which appears to have begun at least on the morning of May 3.

Rationale for Detention

The judge justified the precautionary measure primarily on the risk of flight, given the seriousness of the alleged offenses and the potential penalties—up to 25 years in prison for qualified murder. The decision also considered the suspect’s age, limited family ties after the incident, and his personal and employment situation as reflected in the case files.