Spanish priest, 80, found naked and strangled to death at home in 'lovers dispute' - as man, 40, arrested

Fr Alfonso López Benito, 80, was found dead at his apartment in Valencia

The body of an elderly priest accused of paying male migrants for sex was discovered naked in bed in his Spanish apartment.

Alfonso López Benito, 80, a former canon of Valencia Cathedral, was found deceased on Tuesday by a friend and janitor who had gone to pay him a visit.

A postmortem found he had died by suffocation and had likely been dead for several days.

A 40-year-old South American man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. Described as a Peruvian immigrant, he was said to have tried to use the priest’s bank card in a local bar.

Police have theorised that Fr Benito’s death could have been the result of a violent argument between lovers.

Alfonso López Benito, 80, a former canon of Valencia Cathedral, was found deceased on Tuesday by a friend and janitor who had gone to pay him a visit

Alfonso López Benito, 80, a former canon of Valencia Cathedral, was found deceased on Tuesday by a friend and janitor who had gone to pay him a visit

Fr Benito had allegedly been asked by the Archbishop’s office in Valencia to stop bringing lovers to his home, which was owned by the Catholic church.

Neighbours are said to have complained about the noise from the late priest’s encounters.

According to local media reports, there were no signs of a break-in and no obvious signs of injury on the body, leading them to suspect the killer was not a stranger.

However, someone had been using Fr Benito’s phone to send messages to his friends and associates in the period after his death, raising investigators’ suspicions.

Initial messages claimed he was going to leave Valencia for several days on a personal errand.

A later message was reportedly sent to the janitor after the body had been recovered.

News Related

OTHER NEWS

Reforms announced to address 'stain' of indefinite prison sentences

Thousands of offenders who are serving controversial indefinite prison sentences will no longer have to wait 10 years before they can apply to have their licence terminated under changes announced ... Read more »

Mason Greenwood: Getafe set date for permanent Man Utd transfer talks, as Prem clubs ‘send scouts’

Mason Greenwood is on loan at Getafe from Man Utd Getafe have decided they will speak to Manchester United about a permanent move for Mason Greenwood in April, while Premier ... Read more »

How to claim compensation for pothole damage to your car

Road workers fixing a pothole Potholes are a daily hazard for drivers – and with winter on the way, the condition of British roads is only likely to get worse. ... Read more »

Starfield Player Discovers Ominous Alien Hatchery On A Barren Planet

Starfield Player Discovers Ominous Alien Hatchery On A Barren Planet Starfield features unique planets and worlds in its Settled Systems, breaking up the monotony of exploration with diverse environments and ... Read more »

Up to 40 Tory MPs ‘set to rebel’ if Sunak’s Rwanda plan doesn’t override ECHR

Asylum seekers travel in an inflatable boat across the English Channel, bound for Dover on the south coast of England (Photo: Ben Stansall/AFP) Up to 40 Conservative MPs are poised ... Read more »

Country diary: A tale of three churches

In the saltmarsh fringing where the Ballyboe River dissolves into Trawbreaga Bay, a little egret wears its plumage like a windblown stole. Our car swoops across the 10 arches of ... Read more »

Sunak woos business elite with royal welcome – but they seek certainty

Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/EPA Hampton Court is an enduring monument to the power of Henry VIII, a pleasure palace down the Thames from Westminster and the City of London. On Monday ... Read more »
Top List in the World