23/07/2026 09:05 - Internacionales
Facundo Rico, 37, originally from the province of San Juan in western Argentina, had built a successful career in Spain over the past decade. A specialist in renewable energy, he earned a PhD from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) focusing on optimizing the cleaning of photovoltaic plants. His life ended violently on the morning of July 14, 2026, around 10:00 AM, in his apartment in the upscale Las Tablas neighborhood of Madrid. According to TN, authorities found Rico with 13 stab wounds to his abdomen, back, and shoulder blade.
The National Police’s Homicide Group V reconstructed the crime. According to El Mundo, the alleged attacker is A.J., a 65-year-old Spanish engineer who showed up at Rico’s home. Investigators determined he carried pepper spray, used it to subdue the victim, then inflicted the fatal wounds. After the attack, he left the building, was seen by the doorman, and fled in a red car.
The primary hypothesis points to a crime of passion. The attacker suspected Rico was having an affair with his wife, a 50-year-old woman who was in the process of separating from her husband and attended the same gym as the victim. On July 15, 2026, one day after the murder, A.J. drove to the town of La Adrada in Ávila province, where he reportedly jumped into a ravine known as Charco de la Olla, ending his own life. With this confirmation, Spanish authorities declared the case closed.
Before his death, Rico had started a new job just two months earlier and had left his mark on wind and solar projects in countries like Uzbekistan. His academic and professional career remains an inspiration for the engineering community, reminding us to value talent and life.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
