Five people, four adults and one teenager, have been arrested as suspects in the brutal kidnapping and murder of a middle-aged man whose burned body was discovered in a tunnel in Arico on the east coast of Tenerife. The arrests were made as part of the ongoing "Operation Abadía," led by the Guardia Civil in response to the grisly incident that occurred in early October.
The victim was found bound and partially burned, with multiple stab wounds and, according to the Guardia Civil, initial identification proved challenging due to the extent of the burns, which prevented facial recognition and fingerprint identification.
However, collaboration with the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Division eventually led to the possible identification of the victim. To confirm the identity, the Guardia Civil sought the assistance of their Forensic Science Service in Madrid, sending necessary samples for thorough examination.
After the positive identification of the body, investigators focused on individuals connected to the victim. This meticulous work, involving technical analysis and operational efforts, ultimately led to the identification of all suspects.
Video showing police investigation and arrests of the suspects.
The motive appears to have been premeditated, with the suspects allegedly holding the victim captive for several days in the north of the island before transporting him to the south, where he was killed and set on fire. The police say that this act of burning the body with petrol was intended to hinder identification and conceal the connection between the suspects and the victim.
In addition to the arrests, extensive searches were conducted in the homes of the suspects and three vehicles were inspected, yielding evidence that links them to the crime. Units from the Guardia Civil's Citizen Security Unit in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, along with local and national units, including a specialised canine unit from Madrid, collaborated in the investigation to pinpoint locations tied to the victim’s detention and transport.
The case remains under the jurisdiction of Investigating Court Number 4 in Granadilla de Abona, with oversight by the Provincial Prosecutor’s Office.
