Lorraine Williamson
A man has been arrested after a mother and daughter were found dead with stab wounds inside a burnt-out home in Las Lagunas de Mijas.
Spanish reports say the Guardia Civil detained the partner of María, the 61-year-old woman killed alongside her daughter Patricia, 31, in the early hours of Wednesday morning. Cadena SER reported on Thursday afternoon that investigation sources had confirmed the arrest, while the subdelegate of the Spanish Government in Málaga, Javier Salas, said all lines of investigation remain open, including gender-based violence.
Fire revealed a violent crime
The two women were found after emergency services were called to a fire at a home on Calle Tulipán in Las Lagunas de Mijas. What first appeared to be a house fire soon became a suspected double murder investigation when firefighters and investigators discovered signs of violence.
Mijas Comunicación reported that the bodies of the mother and daughter were found inside the property after the fire. According to police sources cited by the local outlet, Patricia’s boyfriend became worried when he could not contact her and went to the home in the early hours of the morning, where he discovered what had happened. The Guardia Civil later confirmed that both women had died violently and had suffered stab wounds.
Emergency services were alerted at around 2.15 am on Wednesday after flames and smoke were reported coming from an apartment in Calle Tulipán. The 112 Andalucía emergency control room activated the 061 health emergency service, Guardia Civil, Policía Local and Mijas firefighters. After the scene was inspected, investigators treated the deaths as violent rather than accidental fire deaths.
El Español de Málaga reported that the man arrested on Thursday is the partner of María and that he was detained in Málaga city. The same report says investigators believe the women were stabbed before the fire was started, allegedly in an attempt to destroy evidence. It also says the investigation had focused on the emotional or personal circle of the two victims, including phone records and movements around the hours before the fire.
At this stage, the arrest does not mean the case is closed. Investigators still need to establish the exact sequence of events, the motive, the timing of the deaths, and how the fire began. Cadena SER also reported that the authorities are waiting for toxicology results after the autopsies.
All lines remain open
The case is being investigated as a double violent death, and officials have been careful not to close any line of inquiry too early. Javier Salas said on Thursday that all hypotheses remain open, including gender-based violence, while also noting that investigators were continuing their work and not releasing more operational detail.
Neither María nor Patricia was registered in the VioGén system for monitoring gender-based violence cases, according to reports citing official sources. That does not rule out a gender-based violence line of investigation, but it does mean there was no known active protection file in that system.
Shock in Las Lagunas
The deaths have caused deep shock in Las Lagunas, where the women were known locally. Neighbours quoted by Spanish media described them as a normal, long-standing local family and said the crime has left the area stunned.
The fact that the deaths were discovered because of a fire has added to the horror of the case. What began as an emergency call about smoke and flames is now being investigated as the killing of two women from the same family.
Support and help
If the gender-based violence line is confirmed, the case will become part of Spain’s official violence against women statistics. For now, investigators are still working to clarify the circumstances.
Spain’s 016 service offers free and confidential support for victims of violence against women and for people close to them. It can be contacted by phone on 016, by WhatsApp on 600 000 016, through online chat, or by email at 016-online@igualdad.gob.es. In an emergency, people should call 112.
For the people of Mijas, this is another painful case in a week already marked by tragedy on the Costa del Sol. For María and Patricia’s family and neighbours, the priority now is that the investigation establishes clearly what happened inside the Calle Tulipán home and who was responsible.