The man who was convicted of two murders committed in the same room at the Padrón pension, in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, José Antonio Luis Aguiar, also known as El Jala, deceased from cancer in a hospital in Salamanca, a month after requesting parole. Until a few weeks before his death, he was in a prison in that province. For the murder of former soldier Ángel Bermejo he was serving a 17-year prison sentence, while for ending the life of his partner, Adoración de la Cruz, he was sentenced to another 20 years.
It had been less than two years since the latest sentence by the Provincial Court of Santa Cruz de Tenerife for the violent death of the woman.
Lawyer Alfonso Delgado, who defended him in the case of Ángel Bermejo, explained yesterday that “he was a person with a somewhat aggressive character, as was proven in the oral hearing.” In that first trial, it was shown that José Antonio had conflicts with other users and the hostel guard, as well as with other people around him.
Delgado recalled maintaining “normal communications” that are had with a client at the Tenerife II penitentiary center. During the trial, Aguiar refused to answer the prosecution.
Other sources consulted indicated that the individual involved in the two deaths in room 306 of the Padrón pension “did not hesitate to resort to physical and psychological violence to achieve his ends, as he had very little empathy towards others.” Individuals close to the investigation are convinced that “he was not remorseful for what he did; he didn’t mind harming other people.”
Initial murder
[–>
The first murder at the Padrón pension was that of Adoración de la Cruz. The woman and José Antonio had a romantic relationship. After a gender-based aggression, the victim reported him, and the man was imprisoned. Shortly after, the neighbour from Santa Cruz de Tenerife also ended up in jail. In the penitentiary center, they continued their relationship. In the first half of 2009, Aguiar left Tenerife II. And in June of that year, Adoración was released.
The last time she withdrew money from her bank was on June 22, when they were seen together. Three days later, it is reported in the pension records that the woman changed rooms, from 207 to 306. And it was in that room where she lost her life. Later, he packed her body in a bag and hid it in a ravine 400 meters from the pension. It was found by chance in July 2016. The DNA extracted from the bones was compared with that of Adoración’s daughter. And this confirmed the victim’s identity.
José Antonio took a photo with his mobile phone of the corpse on June 25, 2009, but he had deleted it. The device was confiscated by agents from the National Police Homicide Group. Only a low-quality thumbnail of that image remained in memory.
Second murder
[–>
In January 2010 he murdered Ángel Bermejo, a retired military musician. On August 25 of that year, human bones were found between two mattresses on a bed. On top of these, some suitcases, clothing, and a chair had been stacked, among other items. It was room 302, on the third floor of the pension, closed to the general public.
