The unresolved mysteries surrounding Matilde Muñoz's death in Indonesia

PalmThe case of Matilde Muñoz, who disappeared for two months on the Indonesian island of Lombok and was found dead last Saturday, remains under investigation. While an autopsy is pending this week, for now there is no evidence. two men arrested for her murder.

These are some of the keys to the unusual crime on the neighboring tourist island of Bali.

Arrival and disappearance

María Matilde Muñoz Cazorla, born in Galicia in September 1952 and living in Mallorca, arrived on the Indonesian island last June and had a room reserved at the Bumi Aditya Hotel, on the Senggigi coast, until July 20.

The first report of his disappearance was filed by his friend Olga Marín Calonge on July 28 at the Sant Feliu de Guíxols police station (Girona). In the report, she noted that Muñoz hadn't responded to her messages and that no WhatsApp messages had appeared as received since July 7. She also added that she believed his disappearance "was not voluntary."

His nephew, Ignacio Vilariño, also filed complaints. in a court in Alcalá de Henares on July 31 and August 11.

Investigation in Lombok

The West Lombok Police began the investigation on August 13, after receiving notification from the Indonesian National Police and at the request of the Spanish Embassy.

On August 18, Interpol issued a Yellow Notice, an international alert for the search for missing persons.

Body found

On August 30, after pressure from family and friends, police announced they had found Muñoz's body on a local beach.

Spain had sent a dental X-ray to aid in identification, although the procedure used has not been detailed.

Early Sunday morning, police reported the arrest of two men, aged 30 and 34, accused of "premeditated homicide and robbery with violence."

According to the police version, the goal was to "steal the belongings" of the woman, who was allegedly "suffocated" by the detainees when they entered through the window of her room.

Link to the hotel

Police added that one of the suspects was a hotel employee and the other a former employee who lived nearby. According to the investigation, the crime occurred in the early hours of July 2, and the suspects allegedly stole three million rupees (about €155).

Mobile phone geolocation allowed the suspects to be identified, who later revealed where they had hidden the body.

Open questions

Despite the arrests, several dark spots remain. The victim's entourage suspects there may be more implicated among the hotel staff.

The origin of a message sent from Muñoz's cell phone on July 6, stating that he was in Laos, has also remained unclear; why the hotel did not report the disappearance, or how the body was transported to the beach.

The detainees will remain in isolation at the West Lombok police station for 15 days. The autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday or Thursday, following bureaucratic delays.