Guardia Civil investigates suspected gender killing of woman in Valverde de Júcar
A 37-year-old woman and a man were found dead with signs of violence in a house in Valverde de Júcar on Thursday, leaving two daughters aged six and 14. The couple was in separation proceedings, according to the mayor.
The discovery
A person who could not get into a house on Calle Mayorazgo in Valverde de Júcar, a village of just over 1,100 inhabitants in Cuenca province, called the 112 emergency line on Thursday 8 October. Emergency services gave the time of discovery as 19:43, while LaSexta reported 19:30. Guardia Civil officers and firefighters from the Motilla del Palancar station, about 40 kilometres away, entered the home and found both bodies, which showed signs of violence. A doctor certified both deaths, and the 112 service activated the Red Cross psychosocial team. El País reports that the caller was the woman's father, who knew his daughter and the man were inside.
The victims
The woman was 37 years old and of Romanian origin, according to El País. The man is Spanish, according to the same report, and his age has not been established. The couple had two daughters, aged six and 14, and was in separation proceedings, according to Mayor Eduardo Mena, who said he had no record of prior complaints. El País also reports that institutions have no record of earlier violence between them. Regional government sources told Europa Press that the woman was not registered in VioGén, the system that tracks victims of gender violence.
Investigation
The Guardia Civil is investigating the deaths as gender violence. The Government Delegation against Gender Violence said on social media that it was gathering data on the presumed gender killing of a woman in Cuenca province. El País reports that early inquiries point to the man having stabbed the woman with a bladed weapon and then taken his own life. The case will be added to official statistics once it is confirmed. El País also reports that 1,381 women have been killed by partners or former partners so far this year.
Reactions
Mena said the village is 'consternated, sad and angry' and that the council will declare official days of mourning, fly flags at half-mast, cancel weekend activities and convene a gathering. Regional president Emiliano García-Page wrote on X that he felt 'deep sadness and dismay' at the death of the woman, and that if it is confirmed as a new gender killing he also feels 'enormous rage and indignation'.
It deeply hurts that we keep losing lives to a violence we should never accept or normalise. We cannot resign ourselves.
Equality councillor Sara Simón wrote on X that 'everything points to' the case being a new gender killing.
Shocked by the terrible news coming from Valverde de Júcar. The Government of Castilla-La Mancha expresses its strong condemnation and extends all its support and affection to the woman allegedly killed.
LaSexta reports that the 016 helpline offers assistance to victims of gender violence.
