On Monday, Spanish authorities reported the apprehension of a 43-year-old Pakistani man in connection with the homicide of three siblings in their seventies.
The tragic incident is believed to be related to debts stemming from an online romance scam.
The suspect voluntarily surrendered on Sunday night, acknowledging his involvement in the triple murder case in Morata de Tajuna, as stated in a police release.
Judicial sources revealed that the suspect had a prior conviction for assaulting one of the sisters.
The discovery of three partially burnt bodies in the victims’ residence, situated approximately 20 miles southeast of Madrid, prompted neighbors to raise concerns on Thursday.
The deaths are being treated as murder, with a suspected connection to outstanding debts.
Identified only as D.H.F.C, the arrested man is considered the primary suspect, given his previous assault on one of the female victims the previous year.
Residents Suspect Siblings in Online Romance Scam
Local residents suggested a potential connection to a fraudulent online romance, where the sisters engaged in what they believed was a long-distance relationship with two purported US servicemen.
The deception led them to accumulate substantial debts, as they were led to believe one of the servicemen had passed away, and the other needed funds to send them a multimillion-dollar inheritance.
Reports indicate that the sisters borrowed money from neighbors initially, and the suspect, who had rented a room in their home for several months, allegedly lent them at least $55,000, which was never repaid.
This non-repayment reportedly triggered the violent attack on one of the sisters.
As per an announcement from the highest court in the Madrid region, the individual in question was arrested in February 2023 on charges of causing injury with a dangerous object, specifically involving one of the deceased women.
He remained in pre-trial detention without bail until his case was heard in September, resulting in a two-year imprisonment, a fine of $3,150, and a prohibition from being within 500 yards of the victim for a duration of two years and six months.
However, according to Spanish legislation, individuals receiving a prison sentence of up to two years for a first offense have their sentence automatically suspended.
Consequently, he was released upon consenting to fulfill the compensation requirement, as outlined in the statement.