The Mossos d'Esquadra are investigating the discovery of a woman’s body in the Utxesa reservoir at Torres de Segre (province of Lleida) as a homicide. The classification follows the autopsy results, which indicated a violent cause of death. First responders had previously found no clear signs of foul play at the scene.
The body was discovered on 19 August at around 1 pm, after workers at the dam noticed a body in the water and alerted local guards. Police arrived with patrol officers and the underwater unit and recovered the deceased. Following the forensic analysis now available, the División de Investigación Criminal (DIC) is leading the investigation.
Police have so far provided no confirmed details about the woman’s identity or the circumstances of her death. According to consistent regional media reports, she may have been a woman of Romanian origin aged around 50; however, formal identification is still pending. According to Europa Press media reports say the woman had been reported missing two to three days before her body was found. Investigators are currently examining evidence from the scene and conducting forensic analyses to establish the time and sequence of events and a possible motive.
No arrests or specific suspicions against any individual have been announced so far. The authorities stress that ongoing investigations are not discussed in order to avoid jeopardising their progress. Confirmed information is currently limited to the revised finding that the death resulted from violence and the transfer of the case to the criminal investigation police.
The Utxesa reservoir is in the municipality of Torres de Segre in Catalonia and is a popular destination in the province of Lleida. In recent months, there have been occasional emergency responses in the area after bodies were found in the water, although there were not always indications of criminal activity. This case is different because the autopsy has raised clear questions for investigators. Further findings will depend on identifying the deceased, toxicology results and the analysis of evidence collected.
The Mossos d'Esquadra generally ask anyone who has recently witnessed anything suspicious near the Utxesa reservoir to come forward. However, no public police statement about this case had been issued by Wednesday.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).