Last week, Basque Country police in Spain said that they were searching for a suspected serial killer, who was linked to at least four deaths and who had allegedly contacted their victims on LGBTQIA+ dating apps, such as Grindr.
Though the victims' deaths weren't immediately treated as suspicious, October 2021 saw the family of one of those killed notice that a large sum of money had been withdrawn from their loved one's bank account after his death.
Despite already being cremated, analysis on the remains of the victim showed that he had traces of the drug GHB in his system, more commonly known as the 'date rape drug'.
Police looked further into the case and realised that one of the last people the deceased had contacted, was on a gay dating app. Things took a stranger turn when another man then came forward, claiming that a person he had met on Grindr had tried to strangle him, but he had escaped.
The attacker left behind a backpack which contained documents that led authorities to his identity, allowing them to name their suspect.
Since all of this, the Bilbao community in Spain – and in particular the gay community – has been on high alert. So, hearing that the suspect has now handed themselves in to the police should come as some form of relief.
Nelson David MB, 25, went to Irun police station on Thursday, May 5th 2022. He was immediately arrested, but has asserted his innocence and denied all wrongdoing.
Basque Country police said via a spokesperson: "I can confirm a man has handed himself in to police after seeing himself being alluded to in the media and WhatsApp groups. He was formally arrested after he handed himself in. We are not saying why or where he was arrested."
Let’s all hope that police have their man and do a thorough investigation into all of the crimes that have taken place.
Other regions of Spain are now also seeing investigations into four other deaths, originally treated as unsuspicious, take place.
The case echoes that of British serial killer Stephen Port, dubbed the "Grindr killer" after scouting for victims on the app.
He was eventually found guilty of murdering four men and committing multiple rapes, receiving a life sentence with a whole life order, meaning he will never be released from prison.
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Tagged in LGBT True Crime LGBTQ+