Juan Bautista arrested for murder of ex‑wife in Murcia shopping centre amid rise in Spain’s femicide toll

Juan Bautista Murcia femicide Llanes Guardia Civil murder restraining order Spain femicide count

On 5 August 2026 a 44‑year‑old woman was stabbed to death in a shoe‑repair shop inside the Carrefour Infante shopping centre in Murcia. The alleged perpetrator, 38‑year‑old Juan Bautista, the victim’s ex‑partner, fled the scene but was arrested in Puerto Lumbreras while attempting to travel to Granada. He had a restraining order in force since April 2023, a prior conviction for domestic abuse and was on sick leave for depression. The killing is being investigated as a gender‑based violence case.

The same day a 50‑year‑old female Guardia Civil officer was shot dead by her ex‑partner in Llanes, Asturias. These two incidents bring the total number of femicides in Spain to 35 in 2026 and 1 376 since 2003, with 26 minors left orphaned. Spanish authorities, including Minister of Equality Ana Redondo García and Government delegate Carmen Martínez Perza, condemned the murders, called for stronger prevention measures and reminded the public of the 24‑hour assistance phone 016 for victims of gender‑based violence.

Entities: 016 helpline · Ana Redondo García · Carmen Martínez Perza · Carrefour Infante · Carrefour Infante shopping centre · Juan Bautista · Laura Cruz · Ministry of Equality (Spain) · Murcia · Policía Nacional · Puerto Lumbreras · Spanish National Police

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 6 SOURCES] Juan Bautista fled the scene and is being searched for by the National Police. (Juan Bautista fled the scene and is being searched for by the National Police.)
[● 6 SOURCES] The suspect is a 38-year-old man named Juan Bautista, the victim's partner. (The suspect is a 38-year-old man named Juan Bautista, the victim's partner.)
[● 5 SOURCES] The victim had a fatal neck wound. (The victim had a fatal neck wound.)
[● 3 SOURCES] A 44-year-old woman was found dead in a shoe‑repair workshop at Carrefour Infante in Murcia. (A 44-year-old woman was found dead in a shoe‑repair workshop at Carrefour Infante in Murcia.)
[● 4 SOURCES] Juan Bautista had been on sick leave for depression. (Juan Bautista had been on sick leave for depression.)
[● 4 SOURCES] A restraining order prohibiting communication with the victim had been in force since April 2023 and was set to expire in August 2027. (A restraining order prohibiting communication with the victim had been in force since April 2023 and was set to expire …)
[● 5 SOURCES] The incident occurred at about 5:30 p.m. on a Wednesday. (The incident occurred at about 5:30 p.m. on a Wednesday.)
[● 3 SOURCES] Two femicides on 5 August 2026 raised Spain’s 2026 femicide total to 35. (Two femicides on 5 August 2026 raised Spain’s 2026 femicide total to 35.)