MIJAS — 1999 · Murder
The Rocío Wanninkhof Case
Nineteen-year-old Rocío Wanninkhof disappeared in Mijas, Málaga, on 9 October 1999; her body was found near Marbella on 2 November. The investigation focused on a woman who was the former partner of the victim's mother. Tried by jury amid intense media pressure and prejudiced rhetoric about her sexual orientation, she was sentenced in 2001 to 15 years, but the verdict was soon quashed by the High Court of Andalusia. After a young girl was killed in nearby Coín in August 2003, DNA from that scene matched traces in the Wanninkhof file, and a British offender was arrested. He received a combined 55 years for both murders. The case is considered one of Spain's worst miscarriages of justice.
- Date
- 1999
- Place
- Andalusia, Spain, Mijas, ES
- Category
- Murder
- Case Status
- Solved
- Coordinates
- 36.5958, -4.6373 ↗
Timeline of Events
- 9 October 1999Rocío Wanninkhof disappeared in Mijas.
- 2 November 1999Her body was found near Marbella.
- 2001The mother's former partner was convicted by a jury; the verdict was later quashed.
- September 2003The real killer was arrested after a DNA match with a murder in Coín.
- 2006He was also convicted of the Wanninkhof murder, for a combined 55 years.
Sources
- Wikipedia — Murder of Rocío Wanninkhof en.wikipedia.org ↗
- Dialnet — The Media and Crime Information: The Tony King Case dialnet.unirioja.es ↗
- Wikipedia
- Dialnet (akademik makale)
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.