Singer and actress Encarnita Polo has died at 86 in an Ávila nursing home, with circumstances under investigation by National Police as a possible assault by another resident. Police sources point to strangulation by an octogenario with no prior aggression, now admitted to psychiatry. Her daughter has requested privacy during this time of grief.
Encarnita Polo, born in Seville on January 22, 1939, and raised in Barcelona, was a key figure in Spanish copla and pop during the 1960s and 1970s. She achieved success with songs like 'Paco, Paco, Paco' in 1970 and 'Pepa Bandera' in 1969, blending flamenco and pop with her ex-husband, composer Adolfo Waitzman. She appeared on TVE programs such as 'Pasaporte a Dublín' and in films like 'Scaramouche' (1965) and '07 con el 2 delante' (1966). In 1964, she won a prize at Italy's RAI festival.
On Friday, November 14, 2025, Polo died in the Decanos nursing home in Ávila. National Police, via the Provincial Brigade of the Judicial Police, are investigating. Sources close to the probe indicate that an octogenario resident strangled her, possibly due to mental health issues, with no prior signs of aggression. The alleged attacker has been admitted to a psychiatry service.
Her daughter, Raquel Waitzman Polo, announced the death: "With immense pain, I want to communicate that my mother, Encarnita Polo, has passed away today in Ávila, the city where we lived and where she spent her last years surrounded by affection". She added: "For many, she was an unforgettable singer and actress, a pioneer of flamenco-pop whose voice and personality marked several generations. But for me, above all, she was my mother: a strong, fun woman with a unique character". She requested respect and privacy, with no public statements.
In 2012, Polo disclosed losing funds in Bankia's preferred shares and in recent years was treated for cancer, living away from the media.