Two friends found dead by suicide in an Andalucia park this weekend were victims of bullying, their friends have claimed.
The girls, aged 15 and 16, were found lifeless in Concordia Park in the centre of Jaen at around 1.30am on Saturday.
A friend of one of the teens told El Pais: ‘She suffered bullying at her previous school, in El Valle, and it’s something she hadn’t recovered from and was very affected by.’
The young man, who had been out looking for the girls with their families before the horror discovery of their bodies, claimed the second teen was also bullied.
The Regional Ministry of Education reports that there were no complaints of bullying at either school and asked local residents for ‘discretion’, as the case is currently under a gag order.
Friends and classmates of the deceased girls went to the funeral home on Sunday to express their grief and disbelief.
The two girls, both born in Jaen, were Spanish citizens, and their parents are of Colombian origin.
The funeral for the 16-year-old will take place on Monday, while the date for the younger girl’s funeral is still unknown.
The Policia Nacional has confirmed that the two teenagers died by suicide, but they have not confirmed whether they were victims of bullying, as the investigation continues.
It comes after speculation that the deaths could be linked to a classmate who took his own life a year ago.
According to police sources cited by local newspaper Jaen Hoy, a young man shot himself with a shotgun on November 10, 2024.
It is reported that he was a classmate of at least one of the girls.
No other details on how the cases could be related have been released.
A major investigation is underway after the girls, aged 15 and 16, were found in Concordia Park (formerly Victoria Park) at around 1.30am.
The 112 emergency service received a call reporting two people ‘lying unresponsive’ on the ground.
The incident was initially flagged as a ‘possible suicide’, which remains the main hypothesis for investigators.
Paramedics were rushed to the scene but could do nothing for the girls but confirm their deaths.
After securing the area, the case was placed under ‘secreto de sumario’, meaning no further details will be released until the judge authorises it.
Sources close to the inquiry told local media that a first visual inspection found no signs of external violence on the girls.
They added that although the investigation remains open, at this stage the involvement of third parties appears unlikely.
The Government’s representative in Jaen, Manuel Fernandez, confirmed that the judicial police had taken charge of the case and urged caution over speculation.
He said: ‘We ask for the utmost respect for the deceased minors and their families, to whom we express our deepest condolences in these extraordinarily difficult moments.’
The Partido Popular at Jaen City Hall expressed its ‘profound shock’ and requested an official period of mourning, offering condolences to the families.
Shortly afterwards, the Ayuntamiento confirmed three days of official mourning, starting on Saturday night and running until Tuesday, December 2.
Flags at the main municipal building will fly at half-mast.
A minute of silence will be held at 12pm on Monday outside the Town Hall.
Mayor Julio Millan offered condolences on behalf of the municipal corporation and appealed for space for investigators to work.
He stressed that, based on current indications, no third-party involvement is suspected, and asked that speculation be avoided to prevent adding to the families’ suffering.
If you are affected by this story, support is available. In the UK, call Samaritans on 116 123. In Spain, the national suicide prevention helpline is 024.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
