Argentine engineer murdered in Madrid, suspect kills himself

An Argentine engineer was brutally murdered in his apartment in the upscale Madrid neighborhood of Las Tablas on July 14, 2026. The victim, Facundo Rico (37), was found with multiple stab wounds after neighbors reported a strong chemical smell and screams. The suspect, Alberto Juan (65), committed suicide the next day, and the case has been closed. Source: Clarín

What happened

Rico was an electronic engineer specializing in renewable energy who had lived in Spain for over a decade. On the morning of July 14, Juan arrived at Rico's apartment armed with pepper spray and a kitchen knife. After Rico let him in, Juan sprayed him with the pepper spray to incapacitate him and then stabbed him repeatedly. The autopsy revealed 13 to 14 stab wounds, mostly in the chest and back. Source: El Mundo

The motive

Police determined that Juan acted out of jealousy, believing that his wife (who was seeking a separation) was having an affair with Rico. The two had met at a nearby gym. While the alleged affair was not confirmed, investigators found evidence of a strong obsession. Source: ABC

The aftermath

After the attack, Juan fled to his second home in La Adrada, Ávila. He spent several hours with his wife, then drove to a natural gorge and jumped to his death. Police identified him within 24 hours but found him dead when they arrived. The case has been closed without any arrests. Source: El Confidencial