Remedios Sánchez Sánchez, 68, infamous as ‘the granny killer’ for her 2006 crimes in Barcelona, now faces charges for the alleged murder of a 91-year-old woman in A Coruña last October. Police arrested Sánchez Sánchez. Evidence linked her to the death. The incident occurred while she was on prison leave. The incident draws parallels to her past actions. It reignites concerns about public safety. It also questions the justice system’s assessment of high-risk prisoners.

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A Coruña Investigation Uncovers Familiar Pattern

The victim, identified as Carmiña, lived alone in her well-maintained, three-bedroom flat in A Coruña. Her grandson discovered her body on the bathroom floor. A shower cap covered her face. This happened during his daily lunch visit. Emergency medical services initially determined the death was accidental. Workers then transferred the body to a funeral home. However, funeral home staff became suspicious. They observed multiple blows and injuries on Carmiña’s body. They photographed these marks. This prompted further investigation.

Carmiña’s children had installed security cameras in her home for peace of mind. They reviewed the footage. They were shocked to see an unfamiliar woman, dressed in black with short, mahogany-coloured hair, sitting in the kitchen with their mother on the day she died. This discovery, and the disappearance of 400 euros from Carmiña’s pension, led them to alert the police. Authorities then halted the funeral preparations. They ordered an autopsy.

The autopsy confirmed Carmiña died from asphyxiation, not natural causes. She had sustained several blows and fractures. This contradicted the initial assessment. Officials had first considered it an accidental death. Police forensic teams conducted a thorough inspection of Carmiña’s flat. They identified at least two fingerprints. These matched Remedios Sánchez Sánchez and were on a toilet lid. Additionally, investigators found distinctive marks from Sánchez Sánchez’s trainers on the bathroom floor. These were particularly noticeable after a bottle of blue shampoo had spilled.

Further evidence included strands of the suspect’s hair on two bathroom towels. Police also found a pearl earring that Sánchez Sánchez reportedly lost during the incident. This comprehensive forensic report spans 122 pages. It provides crucial direct evidence linking Sánchez Sánchez to the crime, La Vanguardia reported. Police arrested Sánchez Sánchez just five days after the incident. She remained silent during police questioning and before the judge who ordered her immediate return to prison.

Barcelona’s Past: The ‘Granny Killer’ Reign of Terror

Sánchez Sánchez gained notoriety in Barcelona during 2006. She murdered three elderly women and attempted to kill five others. The Mossos d’Esquadra, Catalonia’s police force, faced a significant challenge. They needed to identify the perpetrator at the time. Sánchez Sánchez had no prior criminal record. Her crimes instilled fear among Barcelona’s elderly population. This was particularly true in districts like the Eixample, home to over 260,000 residents, many of whom are elderly.

In 2008, the Barcelona Provincial Court (Audiencia de Barcelona) sentenced Sánchez Sánchez to 144 years in prison. This was for her brutal acts. During her trial, she denied responsibility. She attempted to blame an acquaintance named ‘Mari’. She famously stated, “I would be incapable of doing something like that,” when questioned about the victims’ suffering. She served part of her sentence at Brians prison. There, she married another inmate. Sánchez Sánchez then requested a transfer to Teixeiro prison in Galicia. She was nearing third-degree prison status. She had completed several incident-free temporary releases.

Striking Similarities and Future Implications

The modus operandi in the A Coruña case strikingly mirrored her previous crimes. Sánchez Sánchez allegedly gained the victim’s trust. She asphyxiated them with her hands. She stole money. Then she gambled it away at a bingo hall the same night. She also reportedly disregarded security cameras. These were visible in Carmiña’s home. She left behind forensic evidence, just as she had in Barcelona.

This incident raises significant questions. It concerns the assessment of prisoner risk during temporary release programmes. This is especially true for individuals convicted of violent crimes against vulnerable populations. Remedios Sánchez Sánchez remains incarcerated in Teixeiro prison. She will face trial for Carmiña’s murder. Prosecutors will present the extensive evidence collected. Residents in Barcelona and A Coruña will closely watch the trial’s outcome. This is due to the gravity of her past and alleged current actions. It also has implications for public safety.

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Originally published by La Vanguardia Barcelona. Read original article.