Elderly mother killed, father gravely hurt in Parricide in Algeciras

ALGECIRAS, Cádiz — A 75-year-old woman has died, and her 76-year-old husband remains seriously injured after an attack in their Algeciras home that authorities are treating as a parricide. The incident unfolded late on Friday night in the Pescadores district, where the couple lived.

According to official information released by the Policía Nacional, the woman suffered multiple stab wounds (reportedly more than 20) inflicted with a knife inside the family residence on Virgen de África Street around 11.00 pm. The husband was also attacked and was rushed to hospital in a grave condition due to his injuries.

Son arrested after police search

Police identified the suspected attacker as the couple’s 45-year-old son, who has a police record and prior psychiatric treatment history, according to law enforcement sources. After the assault, he fled but was located and detained on Saturday morning at the Carrefour Las Palomas car park, where he was found inside his vehicle.

Following his arrest, the suspect was taken to the Centro Médico Menéndez Tolosa for medical evaluation before being placed into police custody. The case remains under active investigation as officers work to clarify the circumstances and motive.

Local reaction and investigative status

Neighbours described a scene of shock in the typically quiet residential area, with emergency services and police sealing off the home and surrounding streets overnight. Investigators have not publicly released a motive, but police sources note the suspect’s background includes both criminal and psychiatric history.

Authorities have initiated all necessary judicial and investigative procedures, although significant aspects of the inquiry — including motive and any contributing factors — are still being compiled by the Judicial Police.

Context: Parricide vs. other violence statistics

Spain’s official criminal statistics distinguish killings within a family where the victim is a partner or ex-partner — typically recorded under gender-based violence (violencia de género) — from other family homicides such as parricide or intrafamily killings. This distinction matters for how cases are categorised in national data and for the public understanding of broader trends. This Algeciras incident falls into the latter category rather than into the gender-based violence cohort.

At the end of last month, we reported on another harrowing event in Fuengirola

, where a man reportedly killed his father and then attacked his mother. Incidents like these, though less common than other forms of violence, raise serious questions about mental health support structures and crisis intervention in Spain.

The detained suspect will be presented before a judicial authority as the investigation progresses. Authorities may seek psychiatric assessment and will examine whether any warning signs or interventions could have prevented the tragedy.

As legal proceedings unfold, local police urge anyone with information related to the case to come forward while emphasising that the investigation remains open. Future updates from court filings, hospital reports, and official statements will help clarify the full context of this devastating event.

Sources:

El País, RTVE, Cadena SER