Briev
Live
Crime & Justice

Volunteer for Red Cross Found Dead in Santander After Ex-Boyfriend Confesses

A 27-year-old Red Cross volunteer was discovered dead in her Santander apartment after her former boyfriend, a 39-year-old Moroccan man, allegedly admitted to the killing.

Late last month, authorities responded to a call from Nabil Khalissi, a 39-year-old Moroccan, who allegedly confessed to killing his former partner, 27-year-old Paula Solanas de Miguel, in her Santander flat. Medical examiners described the scene as horrifying, according to a neighbour who heard them leave. Protesters and former coworkers highlighted Solanas de Miguel's three-year involvement with the Red Cross, where she led workshops on gender equality for children at the Veranuco summer schools.

In a statement to Judge María del Sol González, her parents said the couple had a child together and that the breakup, which they said was prompted by Khalissi's controlling behavior, may have driven the crime. They also noted changes in her lifestyle after the split, including a return to school and more social activities. Khalissi, when summoned before the court, invoked his right to remain silent and displayed a cold demeanor throughout the proceedings.

Why it matters

The case underscores the lethal risk of intimate-partner violence and its impact on community volunteers.

In this story

Red Cross volunteerintimate partner violenceSantander homicidegender-based violence educationcourt hearing