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A woman of Cuban descent, identified as Tais, has been arrested in the city of Cáceres after confessing that she suffocated her son Eduardo, who was 29 years old and diagnosed with schizophrenia.
According to the investigation, the mother lived with the young man's corpse for two days before attempting to take her own life.
The case, which has shocked the Extremaduran city, was revealed by El Español and confirmed by police sources. The woman, a retired medical visitor, suffered from fibromyalgia and was undergoing treatment for a depressive condition.
According to initial indications, he is believed to have used a handkerchief to suffocate his son, with whom he had severe conflicts arising from the young man's mental illness.
Authorities found Eduardo's lifeless body in the family home, located in a residential area of the capital city of Cáceres.
The investigators determined that the death occurred at least 48 hours prior to the police intervention, after neighbors alerted authorities about the smell and the lack of activity in the residence.
According to the investigation, after committing the crime, Tais reportedly attempted to take her own life, but was unsuccessful. She was transported alive to San Pedro de Alcántara Hospital, where she remains in police custody awaiting psychiatric evaluation.
Sources close to the case confirmed that the woman had been "at her limit both physically and emotionally," overwhelmed by living with her son and the chronic pain resulting from her illness.
"It was a situation of extreme family tension, exacerbated by a lack of resources and psychological support," stated a close source.
Eduardo, 29 years old, had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had been undergoing psychiatric treatment for over a decade. According to neighbors and close friends, the young man alternated between periods of stability and episodes of aggression and isolation. He lived with his mother following her early retirement after years of working in the healthcare sector.
"She wanted him, but she couldn't take it anymore. She looked exhausted, overwhelmed," a neighbor told the newspaper El Español. The National Police are investigating whether Tais acted out of a fit of desperation and have ordered a complete forensic report on her mental state.
The case has had a profound impact on the Cuban residents in Extremadura. Local associations have expressed their sorrow over what has occurred and have called for a sensitive approach to the connection between mental health, social isolation, and domestic violence.
"It is a tragedy that reveals the lack of institutional support for families living with severe mental illnesses," stated a spokesperson for the Cuban community in Cáceres.
The investigation remains open. The Court of Instruction number 3 in Cáceres has ordered the autopsy of the young man and a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation of the mother before determining her judicial situation.
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