Alfonso López Benito Obituary – An 80-year-old priest, suspected of engaging in sexual activities with migrants in exchange for payment, was discovered deceased and unclothed in his bed at his residence owned by the Catholic Church in Spain. Authorities in Valencia have apprehended a 40-year-old individual in connection with the priest’s violent demise, which they believe stemmed from a dispute between romantic partners.
The suspect, who is reported to be of South American descent, is accused of murdering the priest and subsequently stealing his mobile phone and wallet. Alfonso López Benito, a retired canon from Valencia Cathedral, was found deceased in his bed on Tuesday. Following a post-mortem examination, it was determined that he had likely been suffocated, potentially with a pillow.
According to sources close to the investigation, the police are seeking information from several young men who frequented the retired canon’s residence. It is believed that Benito engaged in paid sexual encounters and occasionally provided shelter to these men, described as destitute individuals or migrants who worked in the streets attending to parked cars. Neighbors had previously reported noisy altercations at the priest’s home, and the archbishop’s office in Valencia had allegedly requested that he cease inviting men to his residence.
Friends of the deceased priest received peculiar text messages from him in the week leading up to the discovery of his body, leading investigators to suspect that the suspect was attempting to buy time before the body was found. However, the suspect was apprehended when the police traced the phone. Additionally, he had utilized a payment card belonging to Benito to purchase beverages at a bar. The Valencia archbishop’s office stated that church authorities are cooperating with the investigation. “We are just as eager as anyone to uncover the circumstances surrounding this death,” they expressed, while also extending condolences to the family of the retired canon.