Facundo Leonel, a 37-year-old Argentine engineer and doctor from UCM, was murdered on July 14 at his home in Las Tablas. The attacker, Alberto Juan, 65, committed suicide hours later.
A 37-year-old doctor in renewable energies, Facundo Leonel, was stabbed to death on July 14 at his home at number 4 Cirauqui Street, in the Madrid neighbourhood of Las Tablas. The alleged perpetrator, Alberto Juan, 65, committed suicide hours later by throwing himself off a cliff in the town of La Adrada, in Ávila, according to police sources.
The events occurred around ten in the morning. Alberto Juan, wearing a dark cap and sunglasses, arrived at the sixth floor where the victim lived. According to the reconstruction by the National Police, the man was convinced that Facundo was having an extramarital affair with his wife, whom the victim had met at a nearby gym.
Upon opening the door, Facundo was sprayed with a pepper spray that the attacker had with him. Immobilised, he received a total of 14 stab wounds: eleven to the front of his body and three to his back, at the level of the shoulder blades. Neighbours alerted emergency services upon hearing screams and noticing a strong acrid smell, characteristic of pepper sprays. Firefighters had to break the windows to access the flat, but paramedics could only certify the engineer's death.
Facundo Leonel, born in Buenos Aires but of Spanish nationality, had been living in Spain for eleven years. He had completed two master's degrees and obtained a doctorate from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), specialising in the optimisation of cleaning photovoltaic plants. His professional career had been meteoric: he had just started a new job two months before his death, about which he had written on social media: "Eager to start this new chapter and face the challenges ahead." Previously, he had worked as a project manager for wind and photovoltaic projects in countries like Uzbekistan.
Facundo's high standard of living, due to his good salary, allowed for an active social life. His neighbours were used to seeing visits from strangers and the parties he hosted at his home. This social life was precisely what initially misled investigators, who considered the hypothesis that the crime could be related to one of his lovers or someone from his close circle.
However, the circumstances of the attack — the depth and trajectory of the stab wounds, as well as the fact that the door had not been forced — led the Scientific Police to believe that the murderer was someone known to the victim. Security cameras in the building were key to identifying Alberto Juan.
While agents were gathering evidence, the alleged murderer drove for an hour and a half to La Adrada (Ávila), where he spent several hours talking to his wife with apparent normality. Upon learning that he was already being sought by the National Police, he threw himself off a cliff and died instantly.
Facundo Leonel's body was transferred to the Forensic Anatomical Institute of Madrid, where an autopsy was performed. Four days later, his remains were taken to the funeral home in Fuengirola (Málaga), where the funeral was held. The investigation into the case has been closed due to the death of the only suspect.
This incident has shocked the Las Tablas neighbourhood, a luxury residential area in the Fuencarral-El Pardo district. Neighbours have expressed their dismay at the violence of the crime and the tragic death of a young man with a promising professional future.
Authorities remind the importance of reporting any situation of harassment or gender violence. In this case, Alberto Juan's wife was processing a marital separation, which could have been a trigger for the attacker's obsession.
You may also like
