Spain's Civil Guard is investigating the death of a three-year-old girl allegedly killed by her 40-year-old father in a Torrevieja (Alicante) home, followed by his suicide. The mother alerted police after failing to contact them. Authorities are considering it a possible case of vicarious violence.
The lifeless bodies of a 40-year-old man and his three-year-old daughter were found in the early hours of March 21, 2026, in a home in the Los Naranjos urbanization in Torrevieja, Alicante. Civil Guard officers responded after the mother, 36, from nearby Albatera, reported being unable to contact her ex-partner and fearing for their shared-custody daughter's safety. The couple had divorced two years prior. Sources close to the probe note the mother reported prior abuse and threats by the father to harm the child if she pursued another relationship, though no formal complaints appear in the Viogen system or prior gender violence records. Both had past relationships involving gender violence episodes. The bodies were discovered in the home's garage, with evidence suggesting murder followed by the presumed perpetrator's suicide. Alicante's Civil Guard Equipo Mujer Menor (Emume) leads the investigation, which points to possible vicarious violence. The mother was hospitalized for shock and anxiety. Neighbors called the girl 'a delight, always smiling' and the father 'reserved,' noting he had fenced his patio with children's toys and cameras. Government delegate Pilar Bernabé posted on X: “Shocked by the murder of a minor in Alicante. Unbearable terrorism.” Torrevieja mayor Eduardo Dolón (PP) condemned the incident, activated social services, and called a minute of silence. In 2026 so far, 13 women and two minors have been killed in similar contexts.
