Francisco José Agüera went missing during the Covid-19 pandemic, but the case broke open when workers discovered a bag containing a human head in the town of Coín, Málaga
The suspect reportedly confessed to the crime (Image: Guardia Civil)
A man has allegedly admitted to killing and dismembering his mate, before scattering his body parts throughout a Spanish town.
Francisco José Agüera vanished during the Covid-19 pandemic, but the case took a chilling twist when workers stumbled upon a bag containing a human head last year.
The accused confessed to the Spanish Civil Guard that he had killed the victim in his home in the town of Coín, in the province of Málaga.
He then dismembered the body and concealed the remains and body parts at various spots in the vicinity.
Detectives unravelled the crime as part of Operation Capibara and the suspect was apprehended on July 28. He reportedly guided police officers to the precise locations where he had discarded the body, reports the Irish Mirror.
Mr Agüera’s family were adamant that he hadn’t disappeared of his own accord, and the case took another dramatic turn in June last year when workers from the Alhaurín de la Torre Town Council discovered a bag inside a manhole.
Workers found a severed head (Image: Guardia Civil)
The workers, who were conducting cleaning and maintenance tasks on an undeveloped plot of land, swiftly realised the bag contained a human head with remnants of hair and several teeth.
It took an additional nine months for forensic analysis to confirm the remains belonged to Mr Agüera. The Civil Guard kept the investigation ongoing to determine the exact circumstances of the brutal death and to identify the perpetrator.
Following the identification of the suspect, he guided police to the location where the victim’s remains were discovered, near the Carretera de las Canteras. Detectives also deployed ground-penetrating radar, drones and sniffer dogs to locate the horrific remains.
Civil Guard sources revealed that criminal databases, document analysis and court-approved technological methods assisted in identifying the suspect, who was known to the victim.
The man appeared before magistrates at the end of last week, where he chose to exercise his right to silence.
He was subsequently remanded in custody without bail and faces charges of homicide.
The grisly story unfolded in the town of Coin (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Mr Agüera’s neighbours grew worried about his disappearance and notified local police, who then reached out to his sisters.
One of his relatives visited his home in April 2020 accompanied by officers but discovered nobody present. His possessions remained untouched and there was still food in the refrigerator.
Mr Agüera’s sister spoke briefly to Canarias 7 to reveal the torment they have endured over the past six years.
She said: “This is a pain that eats you away, that prevents you from living.”
The grieving relative also expressed sympathy for the suspect’s family, stating: “The family of the person who did this will also be suffering, and they are not to blame. We have nothing against them.”
