A couple dubbed the ‘Badoo Killers’ for tricking a wealthy middle-aged businessman on a date using the Badoo App before robbing him and burying him alive have been jailed in Spain.
The Provincial Court of Zaragoza in the Spanish region of Aragon has sentenced Hendangeline Candy Arrieta, 34, and her 35-year-old partner Mohamed Achraf, to 34 years in prison for kidnapping, torturing, murdering, and burying alive businessman Jose Antonio Delgado Fresnedo, 54.
His body was found with the help of an ankle bracelet he was forced to wear after he was accused of beating his ex-wife.
The judge sentenced them both to 25 years in prison for murder, six years for kidnapping, and three for fraud.
Prosecutors called for a maximum sentence of 35 years as well as compensation of EUR 276,843 for the victim’s parents, son and two brothers.
The investigation carried out by the Civil Guard concluded that the victim, a computer scientist and resident of Getxo Town, went to Luceni in Zaragoza Province to meet Arrieta.
The pair had previously met on the dating app Badoo and arranged to get together.
However, instead of the young woman, Achraf approached Delgado Fresnedo and beat him before stealing his personal belongings and his Mercedes 220.
The couple took Delgado Fresnedo to the town of Pedrola where they lived and had a workshop.
They demanded that the businessman hand over his bank cards and passwords and beat him when he refused. They assaulted him with blunt objects until they eventually got what they wanted.
Achraf then put the victim’s Mercedes up for sale on an online portal and agreed a price of EUR 21,000 with a buyer the next day. He has reportedly forwarded a deposit of EUR 11,000.
After being beaten and tortured, the victim was dumped in the car boot and taken to the area of Barranco del Lobo where the defendants dug a hole and buried him alive.
The Civil Guard found the victim’s body on 27th September after tracking mobile phone data and the GPS trail left by the ankle bracelet Achraf had to wear following a court order for abusing his ex-wife.
The autopsy concluded that the defendants, detained since 5th October, savagely beat Delgado Fresnedo, causing head trauma, nine broken ribs, with signs of being tied up, adding that he was buried alive and dirt was found in his lungs.
Based on evidence found at their residence, the police believe the couple carried out similar robberies on at least three separate occasions. Delgado Fresnedo was their final victim and the only one to be killed.
The ‘Badoo Killers’ are also currently also on trial for a violent robbery against a resident of La Almunia and another case against a citizen from Tudela that will start in June.
