Son Released After Body Found in Palma — Investigations Continue

Unusual Find in Santa Catalina

In a quiet courtyard in Santa Catalina, neighbors in early October discovered something none of us here expected: an elderly woman who had apparently been dead in her apartment for some time. The discovery triggered a chain of investigations that continues to this day.

How the alert happened

A resident who walks up and down the stairs every morning had wondered why she hadn't seen or heard the woman for weeks. On October 6 around 14:20, she finally called the police. The front door was locked; the fire department had to be called to open it. Just as the emergency services arrived, the apartment door opened: the deceased's son stood in the hallway and said his mother had died as early as September.

At the scene, witnesses reported a running fan and loud music in the apartment — small details that later appeared in the reports. The National Police activated the corresponding investigation protocol: crime scene investigation, medical examiner, and the homicide squad were brought in.

Arrest, charges and release

In the initial examination, injuries to the neck were found on the corpse, fueling suspicion of a non-natural death. Subsequently, the police arrested the son on October 14. The mood in the neighborhood was tense; people whispered on the street, many knew the family only from passing by.

On Friday, the examining magistrate in Palma, No. 5, ordered the man's release — provisional and until the final autopsy report has been received. That means: he is no longer in custody, but the investigations are by no means complete.

What happens now

Forensic investigators searched the apartment, photographed it, and secured traces. The investigators are now trying to create a reliable timeline: when did the woman really die? Who had access to the apartment? And how can the injuries observed during the initial exam be explained?

Such cases remain a topic in a city like Palma for a long time — not only because they are tragic, but because they raise questions about neighborhood, loneliness in old age, and how help is required. We expect final answers from the medical examiner. Until then, the investigation continues.