The Spanish National Police and the authorities of Andalusia are conducting an intensive investigation into the suicide of 14-year-old Angeles, a student at IES Benalmadena in the province of Malaga. The teenager's body was found in her home last weekend. The girl's parents claim their daughter was under psychological care due to bullying at school. However, official statements from the education board deny that anti-violence protocols were ever activated for the girl.

Tragic weekend outcome

The body of 14-year-old Angeles was found on the night of February 14 to 15 in her home in Arroyo de la Miel in Malaga.

Conflicting versions of events

The parents claim their daughter was bullied, while the education board states that no complaints were recorded and no protective procedures were activated.

National Police investigation

Authorities are analyzing the bullying angle and checking whether the teenager received help from a psychologist due to problems at school.

The death of 14-year-old Angeles, who served as the class representative at the Benalmádena Secondary Education Institute, has shaken the local community in the province of Malaga. The teenager took her own life last weekend, and her body was found between Saturday and Sunday night around 00:15 in the Los Algarrobos residential complex in the Arroyo de la Miel district. At the request of the parents, who pointed to a bullying problem, the National Police (Policía Nacional) launched an investigation to determine whether the girl was a victim of bullying. The deceased's family maintains that Angeles was receiving help from a psychologist precisely because of the difficult situation at school. A completely different picture of the situation is presented by the Junta de Andalucía, the regional autonomous government. The regional councilor for educational development, María del Carmen Castillo, reported that there are currently five active anti-violence protocols at the IES Benalmádena facility, but none of them concerned Angeles. According to officials, no previous signals of inappropriate peer behavior towards the 14-year-old were recorded. The school declared mourning, lowering flags to half-mast. Investigators are currently analyzing the girl's activity on social media and her out-of-school relationships, trying to explain the discrepancy between the parents' account and the institution's documentation. Spanish education law has been systematically tightening procedures for detecting so-called peer violence for years, introducing mandatory training for teaching staff in recognizing depressive states in youth. „Currently, five protocols concerning bullying or self-harming behaviors have been activated in this educational center, but none are linked to this specific student.” — María del Carmen Castillo The case has sparked public debate about the effectiveness of school early warning systems. Experts emphasize that victims of bullying often hide their suffering from teachers, rendering formal procedures ineffective. The police do not rule out any scenario, including bullying occurring outside school walls or in the digital sphere, which may have escaped the attention of educators.

Mentioned People

  • Angeles — Fourteen-year-old student and class representative at IES Benalmádena, who died by suicide.
  • María del Carmen Castillo — Andalusian regional councilor responsible for education, commenting on the lack of bullying reports concerning the deceased.