The investigation into the violent death of a four-year-old boy in Almeria has taken an even more disturbing turn.
Forensic examinations have revealed that the body of Lucca showed injuries consistent with sexual assault.
The final autopsy, currently being completed at the Institute of Legal Medicine, will determine the exact nature of the injuries.
Lucca was found dumped inside an old civil war bunker on a beach in Garrucha, near Mojacar.
The discovery of likely sexual abuse adds a new layer of horror to a case that remains under strict reporting secrecy.
The child’s 21-year-old mother and her current partner remain in custody.
Both are expected to be brought before a judge on Saturday, according to the Government’s sub-delegate in Almeria, Jose Maria Martín.
Compounding the shock is the revelation from the Superior Court of Justice of Andalucía (TSJA), that on October 20, a restraining order was issued against the man now detained.
Crucially, that order barred him from approaching both the mother and the child.
The order had been in force for just over six weeks when Lucca disappeared.
This detail raises urgent questions about how the man was able to access the child and remain in contact with the mother despite a judicial ban.
Investigators are now working to determine not only the method of the killing and alleged assault, but also the role of each detainee.
The inquiry will examine whether the mother may have criminal liability for failing to protect her son or for any degree of cooperation with the suspect.
Authorities have urged restraint amid growing public outrage, warning against premature conclusions about whether the case fits the definition of ‘violencia vicaria‘ (violence committed against a child to harm the mother).
The case began after the child’s biological father reported him missing. The boy’s body was found late on Wednesday night between Garrucha and Mojacar by officers searching the coastline.
The discovery has sent shockwaves through the a region.
Martín also called for public reflection after multiple videos of the child began circulating online, warning that authorities will review any possible legal consequences related to the dissemination of the victim’s image.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
