Castro Urdiales' older brother confesses to the prosecutor that he killed his mother and the Civil Guard investigates whether there was abuse as the child claims

The testimony of J., the 15-year-old teenager who has admitted to being responsible for his mother’s fatal stab wound in Castro Urdiales (Cantabria), has sparked a new line of investigation for the Civil Guard. While confessing to the murder, J. also revealed a history of consistent physical and verbal abuse within the family, leading authorities to further investigate these allegations.

According to J., insults and physical violence were a common occurrence in the household. The investigation will now determine the veracity of these claims and whether Silvia, the victim, and her husband subjected their adopted children to abuse.

J. explained that the argument that sparked the tragic incident was over his exam grades. He stated that Silvia violently assaulted him, prompting him to retaliate by fatally stabbing her in the neck with a kitchen knife. Subsequently, J. and his 13-year-old brother E. undressed their mother’s body, placed a garbage bag over her head, and carried her to the family car in the garage.

The two brothers managed to leave the house unnoticed, with the intention of escaping. However, while attempting to drive the car, they lost control and crashed into a wall. They then made the decision to flee their home, which they did at around 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

After 9:00 p.m., the children’s maternal grandmother called Silvia’s phone. J. and E. answered the call and claimed that they had been kidnapped. In a subsequent communication, they confessed that something had happened to their mother and abruptly ended the call. Alarmed, the grandmother notified the Civil Guard of the situation.

The grandmother, who lived next door, grew increasingly concerned and contacted the authorities. The discovery of Silvia’s body in the garage and the state of the house, showing signs of a violent struggle, had already shocked the investigating officers.

Over the past hours, investigators have focused on visually inspecting the house, car, and garage. All collected samples are currently being analyzed to reconstruct the events that took place. Statements from individuals associated with the family are also being obtained.

Initially, there was speculation that Silvia’s murder could be a case of gender-based violence. However, this hypothesis was quickly disproven with the revelation that her husband was working at a factory in Llodio (Álava) during the incident. The theory that the father had kidnapped the children was then ruled out. Sources report that the father was devastated upon hearing of Silvia’s death.

Criminalistics agents from the Civil Guard are conducting inspections at the crime scene house.DAVID S. BUSTAMANTE

Finding the two brothers became a top priority amidst the confusion. Police established controls throughout Castro Urdiales and at the town’s entrances in an effort to locate them. Vehicles, trunks, containers, and doorways were searched as possible hiding places. Police resources and an ambulance were mobilized. Approximately five hours after Silvia’s body was found, the brothers were discovered at Cotolino park in Castro Urdiales at around 2:15 a.m.

The brothers were hiding in the park’s cliffs. The authorities now have no doubt that the minors are responsible for their mother’s death. The encounter with both children was met with a cold and silent reception. According to sources, one of the children silently accepted the arrest, while the other initially fled and hid in the forest. The Civil Guard located and apprehended him over an hour later.

The younger brother is currently under primary care evaluation, while the older brother has been placed in a juvenile center until his trial.