Ten years since Diana Quer's disappearance and murder in Spain
A decade has passed since Diana Quer disappeared, whose killer, 'El Chicle', confessed after 497 days of searching. Her case led to the introduction of reviewable life sentences in Spain.
A decade of the case that changed Spanish crime reporting
According to canalsur.es, a decade has passed since Diana Quer's disappearance and death, the case that marked a turning point in Spain's criminal history. The last signs of life from the young woman were the messages she sent to a friend that early morning, in which she expressed her fear because a man was following her as she walked alone towards her home.
What followed was a desperate search lasting 497 days and one of the most widely reported investigations remembered in the country. For months there were no evidence or suspects, and the case even reached the point of being filed away.
The turning point came when a shellfish gatherer found Diana's mobile phone in the estuary where it was allegedly thrown by José Enrique Abuín, known as 'El Chicle', after two months submerged. Investigators managed to unlock it, which led the investigation to the accused's vehicle.
Abuín was the only suspect, although initially he denied everything. Months later he was arrested for another attempted assault and ended up breaking down. He himself guided the Civil Guard to the well where he had thrown Diana's body, at a depth of ten metres. After nearly 500 days of silence, the confession closed a search that had shocked millions of people.
The case mobilised Spanish society to demand reviewable life sentences. That was precisely the sentence imposed on 'El Chicle', who remains in prison. Diana's father has pointed out that that law continues to save lives today, thus consolidating his daughter's legacy a decade after her death.
Source: Google News ES — Crime (es)