Spanish judge orders pre-trial detention for father who killed son's speech therapist in Valencia

The attack

On Monday afternoon, a 24-year-old man attacked the speech therapist treating his two-year-old son at a clinic in the Marxalenes neighborhood of Valencia. Using a 15-centimeter knife, he inflicted fatal wounds on the 32-year-old therapist. The victim was found dead at the scene beside the weapon. No prior complaints or criminal record existed against the therapist.

Surrender and confession

Roughly at 6:15 p.m. that same day, the father walked into a National Police station in nearby Burjassot, his hands still stained with blood, and confessed to the killing. He claimed he had returned to the clinic unexpectedly and found his son with his pants and diaper removed, believing the therapist was sexually abusing the boy. The suspect told officers he acted after that discovery.

Court decision

After the maximum 72-hour police custody, the investigating magistrate at Court of Instance No. 11 ordered pre-trial detention, communicated and without bail, on Thursday. The suspect is formally under investigation for homicide, without prejudice to further charges. He will now have to testify or remain silent before the judge.

Investigation ongoing

Police are analyzing the suspect's phone and other electronic devices for child abuse material and have requested security footage from neighboring businesses, as the clinic lacked internal cameras. Colleagues described Vicent, the therapist, as a wonderful person and noted that the small clinic allowed everything to be heard, casting doubt on the father's account of a silent assault. Vicent was also studying psychology and had been in a stable three-year relationship. Investigators continue to pursue parallel lines of inquiry to verify the suspect's version.