Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
In the shadows of Barcelona’s bustling streets, a chilling crime shook the Spanish public—a tale of passion, betrayal, and murder that led to the sensational conviction of police officer Rosa Peral. This story of a love triangle gone horribly wrong, involving members of the Guardia Urbana, became known as the ‘Crime of the Guardia Urbana’ and captured the nation’s attention, eventually inspiring a Netflix documentary.
In May 2017, the burned body of Pedro Rodríguez, also a Guardia Urbana officer, was discovered inside the trunk of his car, abandoned near a remote reservoir in Catalonia. Investigators soon pointed their suspicions towards Rosa Peral, his girlfriend at the time, and her former lover and police colleague, Albert López. As police delved deeper into the victim’s private life, a tangled web of deceit, infidelity, and bitter jealousy began to emerge.
Pedro Rodríguez’s death was not just a tragic incident—it was a calculated murder driven by betrayal and rage. Prosecutors presented evidence that Rosa and Albert had conspired to kill Pedro, driven by jealousy and a desire to rid themselves of an obstacle to their continued affair. They alleged that the couple murdered Pedro in the home Rosa shared with him, before attempting to cover up their crime by transporting his body in the trunk of his car and setting it ablaze.
The trial that followed brought to light the toxic dynamics of a love triangle that had spiraled out of control. Rosa and Albert both claimed innocence, each blaming the other for Pedro’s death. Rosa portrayed herself as a victim of Albert’s manipulation, claiming she acted out of fear, while Albert maintained that it was Rosa who orchestrated the crime.
Yet, despite their accusations against each other, the evidence painted a damning picture. Testimonies from colleagues, digital evidence, and inconsistencies in their stories ultimately led to both of them being convicted. In 2020, Rosa Peral received a sentence of 25 years in prison, while Albert López was sentenced to 20 years. The verdict left the Spanish public divided, with some believing Rosa was unfairly portrayed as a femme fatale, while others saw her as a cold-blooded killer.
The case became a media sensation, not just because of its grisly details, but because it involved police officers—people trusted to protect the public—betraying that trust in the most heinous way. The high-profile nature of the crime, along with the shocking betrayal and intense emotions involved, led to the creation of documentaries, most notably Netflix’s “The Rosa Peral Tapes”. The series provided Rosa’s perspective, directly from prison, as she continued to insist on her innocence and portrayed herself as a victim of both Albert’s influence and an unforgiving media.
This tragic tale continues to captivate and horrify Spain, raising uncomfortable questions about the boundaries of love, obsession, and the capacity for betrayal within the ranks of law enforcement. For many, it stands as a reminder that even those sworn to uphold the law can fall prey to the darkest of human impulses—jealousy, manipulation, and ultimately, murder.
Rosa Peral’s story is one that shows how passion, when entangled with betrayal, can turn into a nightmare—one that will not be forgotten in Spain for years to come. As new documentaries and interviews emerge, the public continues to grapple with one persistent question: Was Rosa Peral a cunning mastermind of a gruesome crime, or was she simply another pawn in a fatal game of love and deceit?
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