The Asunta Case, also known in Spanish as "El caso Asunta," refers to the highly publicized murder investigation and trial surrounding the death of 12-year-old Asunta Basterra Porto in Teo, Galicia, Spain, in September 2013. Her adoptive parents, Rosario Porto Ortega and Alfonso Basterra Camporro, were ultimately convicted of her murder. The case garnered significant national and international attention due to the victim's age, the prominent social standing of her parents, and the shocking nature of the crime.
Background
Asunta Basterra Porto was born in China in 2001 and adopted by Rosario Porto, a lawyer and honorary consul of France, and Alfonso Basterra, a journalist, when she was less than a year old. The family resided in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Asunta was described as an intelligent and talented child, excelling in academics, music, and dance.
Disappearance and Discovery
On September 21, 2013, Rosario Porto and Alfonso Basterra reported Asunta missing. Porto initially claimed she had left Asunta at home to run an errand and returned to find her gone. However, her story changed multiple times during the initial investigation. In the early hours of September 22, the body of Asunta Basterra was discovered by two passersby on a dirt track in a wooded area near Teo, a municipality close to Santiago de Compostela. The location was near a country house owned by Rosario Porto.
Investigation and Arrests
The investigation quickly focused on Asunta's parents. Key evidence and discrepancies in their statements led to their arrests:
- Altered Alibi: Rosario Porto initially stated she was at home with Asunta, but CCTV footage showed her driving alone to the country house in Teo that evening, returning later with an unrecognizable figure in the passenger seat (which investigators later suggested was Asunta).
- Drug Evidence: Toxicological reports indicated that Asunta had been administered a high dose of Lorazepam (a sedative) on the day of her death and on previous occasions. This drug was prescribed to Rosario Porto.
- Parental Behavior: The parents' demeanor and inconsistent testimonies raised suspicion. Alfonso Basterra also admitted to purchasing Lorazepam shortly before Asunta's death.
- Financial Motive (Speculated): While never definitively proven in court, investigators explored potential financial motives related to inheritances and the parents' complex marital and financial situation.
Both Rosario Porto and Alfonso Basterra were arrested within days of Asunta's body being found.
Trial and Conviction
The trial of Rosario Porto and Alfonso Basterra began in September 2015 in Santiago de Compostela. The prosecution argued that the parents had jointly planned and executed Asunta's murder, sedating her with Lorazepam, taking her to the country house in Teo, and suffocating her. The defense maintained their clients' innocence, highlighting the lack of direct physical evidence connecting them unequivocally to the act of killing and suggesting that someone else might have been involved.
After a month-long trial, a jury found both Rosario Porto and Alfonso Basterra guilty of Asunta's murder on October 30, 2015. They were each sentenced to 18 years in prison. The verdict and sentence were upheld on appeal by the High Court of Justice of Galicia and later by the Supreme Court of Spain.
Aftermath and Legacy
- Rosario Porto's Death: Rosario Porto committed suicide in her cell at Ávila prison on November 18, 2020, after multiple previous suicide attempts.
- Alfonso Basterra: Alfonso Basterra continues to serve his sentence in Teixeiro prison, maintaining his innocence.
- Media Impact: The Asunta Case remained a prominent topic in Spanish media for years, inspiring numerous documentaries, books, and articles. Its complexities, the lack of a clear motive, and the parents' steadfast denial captivated public interest.
- Netflix Series: In 2024, Netflix released a Spanish limited series titled "El caso Asunta" (The Asunta Case), starring Candela Peña as Rosario Porto and Tristán Ulloa as Alfonso Basterra, further bringing the story to a global audience.