Jose Antonio Rodriguez Vega

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José Antonio Rodriguez Vega
Background information
Birth name:	José Antonio Rodriguez Vega
Born:	December 3, 1957 Santander, Cantabria
Died:	October 24, 2002 Santander, Cantabria
Cause of death:	Stabbed
Penalty:	440 years of prison
Killings
Number of victims:	16+
Span of killings:	1987 through 1988
Country:	Spain
State(s):	Cantabria
Date apprehended:	1988

José Antonio Rodriguez Vega: (b. December 3, 1957 - October 24, 2002) was the most prolific Spanish serial killer who raped and killed at least 16 old widows women in and around Santander, a Northern city in Cantabria, Spain between August, 1987 and April, 1988.^[1]

Contents 1 Biography 2 Crimes 3 Trial and sentence 4 His death 5 References

[edit] Biography

José Antonio Rodriguez Vega was born in Santander, Cantabria, Spain to an unhealthy family. Vega hated his mother because she had thrown him out of her house when Vega gave a beating to his father who was terminally ill. In 'revenge' against his mother, Vega started his criminal career raping many women until October 17, 1978 when he was arrested and sentenced to a term of 27 years in prison. However, his 'excellent behaviour' and his excuses with the victims reduced his sentence to 8-years of prison. Finally, was released in 1986. After being released, Vega's wife broke the relationship up and escaped. He did not tolerate it and married with a mentally disabled woman who was tortured and humiliated by Vega who showed an excellent marriage to the society. ^[2]

According to many people, Vega seemed to be a good person, a hardworking man and a really good husband.

On May 19, 1988 Vega was arrested when he was walking on the street Cobo de la Torre in Santander where he was sharing an apartment with María de las Nieves V.P (23 years old). After being arrested, he confessed to the murders.

[edit] Crimes

-On August 6, 1987 Vega entered to the house of Margarita González (82 years old), raped and suffocated her. Also, he forced the woman to swallow her own false teeth.

-On September 30, 1987 Carmen González Fernández (80 years old) was found dead in her house. Vega was accused for this murder.

-In October, 1987 killed Natividad Robledo Espinosa (66 years old), he gave a beating to the woman, raped and suffocated her.

-On January 21, 1988 Carmen Martínez González was found dead in her house. Vega was accused for this murder.

-On April 18, 1988 he killed Julia Paz Fernández (66 years old) the woman was raped and suffocated. She was found naked.

The other crimes were never exposed.^[3]

[edit] Trial and sentence

His trial began in November, 1991 in Santander. At the time of his arrest, he had confessed to the murders but on trial he denied all charges against him and said that the women had died by natural causes.

Vega was identified as a psychopath, a fastidiously neat individual, a cold-hearted and calculating serial killer that enjoyed taking home "trophies" from each of his kills. In his apartment which he shared with a woman he had created a lavish altar dedicated to his fetishistic collection of mementos from each of his crimes.

During his trial Vega enjoyed the constant harassment from the public who wanted to lynch him for his crimes. An aspect that showed his psychopath personality. Also, he said phrases like: All men around the world have wished raping their mothers or When I have had sex with elderly women, I covered their mouths.... a terrible sadistic impulse. ^[4]

Finally, José Antonio Rodriguez Vega was sentenced to 440 years of prison.

[edit] His death

On October 24, 2002 Rodriguez Vega was walking in the prison's playground when two inmates attacked him. José Antonio Rodriguez Vega was brutally stabbed.

On October 25, 2002 Rodriguez Vega was buried in a poor coffin. The day of his burial only were two gravediggers.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] References