The year 2013 saw a crime in Galicia, Spain, so horrific it continues to resonate, inspiring books, documentaries, and a major Netflix series. It began with the disappearance of a beloved 12-year-old girl and unravelled to reveal a chilling betrayal by the very people entrusted with her care.
A Life of Privilege Ends in Tragedy
Asunta Basterra Porto was born in Yongzhou, China, and adopted at just nine months old by Rosario Porto and Alfonso Basterra. Rosario, the daughter of a prominent lawyer and the Honorary Consul of France, provided a privileged upbringing. Asunta thrived, excelling academically, in ballet and music, and mastering several languages.
This promising life was brutally cut short. On 22 September 2013, Asunta was reported missing. Her body was discovered the next day on a forest trail in Teo, roughly five kilometres from her mother's rural home.
The Investigation and a Sinister Pattern
Police scrutiny quickly turned to the parents as inconsistencies emerged. Rosario claimed she was alone before Asunta vanished, but CCTV footage from a petrol station clearly showed the girl in the passenger seat.
The breakthrough came with toxicology results. Tests confirmed that Asunta had been systematically given the prescription drug lorazepam, a potent benzodiazepine, for the three months leading to her death. Her now-separated parents were arrested on 24 September.
Evidence mounted: photos on family devices showed Asunta repeatedly asleep in the days before the crime. Her music teachers testified to her unusual drowsiness. It was proven that Alfonso had purchased large quantities of the drug for Rosario.
Trial, Sentence, and Unanswered Questions
Forensic experts concluded the lorazepam had left Asunta semi-conscious or incapacitated, allowing her to be asphyxiated without a struggle. The four-week trial heard from 84 witnesses. Prosecutors argued the parents had acted together in a deliberate, planned act of ultimate betrayal.
Both Rosario Porto and Alfonso Basterra were sentenced to 18 years in prison for aggravated murder. A clear motive remained elusive. Financial theories involving inheritance were dismissed. The prosecution suggested a toxic mix of control, emotional instability, and long-term scheming.
Rosario Porto, after several attempts, died by suicide in prison in 2020. Alfonso Basterra remains incarcerated. The Asunta case stands as one of Spain's most high-profile crimes, a grim testament to shattered trust and a mystery that endures.
