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Methanol Finding Spurs Attempted‑Homicide Inquiry in Valencia Elder‑Exploitation Case

A toxicology result has opened a parallel line of investigation as the fraud probe continues against five suspects linked to undervalued property sales.

Overview

  • Police detained a notary, two lawyers, a caregiver and a buyer over an alleged scheme to strip an octogenarian with Alzheimer’s of assets, then a judge granted all five provisional release.
  • Travel bans, passport withdrawals and twice‑monthly court check‑ins were imposed on four suspects, while the notary was released without preventive measures.
  • Investigators say three properties were sold to the same buyer between late 2022 and December 2023 at steep discounts — a commercial unit, the home’s bare ownership and an industrial warehouse — yielding an estimated €785,000 in illicit gains.
  • The inquiry began in June 2025 after relatives reported isolation of the victim and discovered the transfers via land‑registry checks; the Ruzafa judicial police unit is leading the case.
  • A hospital tox screen detected methanol in the victim, prompting an attempted‑homicide probe not attributed to any specific suspect; police also cite the caregiver’s inclusion in the will and unusual cash withdrawals, which the detained lawyers dispute as lawful and aligned with the woman’s wishes.