Investigate if a civil guard has killed his wife and son in Alicante

They are investigating the discovery of the lifeless bodies of a Civil Guard agent, his wife, 55, and his 24-year-old son in Dolores, Alicante, as a possible case of gender-based violence. Sources close to the case have indicated to Efe that the investigation points to the Civil Guard agent, who has no prior record of gender-based violence, having murdered both his wife and son before committing suicide.

The same sources have detailed that the woman's body was found lifeless in one room and the son's in another, both with gunshot wounds. On the other hand, the Civil Guard agent's body was found in the hallway, with a gunshot to the head and a pistol next to him. The Spanish government's delegation against Gender Violence is now investigating the case as alleged gender-based violence, as explained by the Spanish government delegate in the Valencian Community, Pilar Bernabé, after visiting the Civil Guard headquarters in Dolores.

Bernabé has explained that the Civil Guard is in the full investigation process after a first inspection and has added that, as there was a marital relationship, they are seeing if it is "a possible murder due to gender violence". He also explained that on Monday the autopsies of the three bodies will be carried out at the Alicante Institute of Legal Medicine and that it is expected that, then, more data will be available to clarify the facts. According to his data, the man was not within the Viogén system nor did he have previous complaints. Bernabé did not want to offer details of the weapon used in the crimes because it is information that is part of the investigation.

Three days of mourning

The town hall of the Valencian municipality has decreed three days of official mourning and the suspension of all scheduled festive activities, "given the terrible events that occurred today in the municipality". The mayor of Dolores, Joaquín Hernández, explained that he is unaware of the lines of investigation and, therefore, what hypothesis is being studied regarding what may have happened. Furthermore, he added that the three fatalities were "very well known" in the town, as the civil guard had been stationed in the municipality since 1996. "It is very shocking, all the residents are stunned and in shock, we do not understand what has happened," the mayor insisted in statements to Efe.