Marta del Castillo disappeared on January 24, 2009, in Seville after leaving for her boyfriend Miguel Carcaño's house. He confessed to the murder but then changed his story three times about where the body was: Guadalquivir River, garbage container, grove. Fourteen years later, Marta is still missing. Four people were convicted, the DNA of three is at the crime scene, but none have revealed the truth about what happened that night or where her body is.
In this episode, you will discover how four teenagers and young people from a neighborhood in Seville were able to keep the fate of a girl a secret for more than a decade, how justice convicted some without concrete answers, and why the contradictions in the confessions are so deep that neither the family nor the police have been able to find Marta. You will learn the details of a night in January that changed lives forever and left the most heartbreaking case in Spanish criminology unresolved.
Case Details
Victim: Marta del Castillo Garrido, 17 years old, Physical Education student
Date: January 24, 2009
Location: Seville, Tartesos neighborhood, Andalusia, Spain
Status: Open case. Four people convicted. Body not found. Searches continue with advanced forensic technology. Family has maintained an active search campaign since 2009.
- Miguel Carcaño confessed to the murder but offered three contradictory versions about the fate of the body, none of which led to its discovery.
- The DNA of Miguel, Samuel Benítez, and Francisco Carcaño appears at the crime scene, but Javier García Marín was acquitted of murder despite participating in search efforts.
- Javier's mother and son admitted in 2022 to having given false testimony during the trial; Javier's acquittal was based on that discredited alibi.
- The family bought Miguel Carcaño's apartment to offer it in exchange for a confession about the location of the body: none of the convicted have responded.
How is it possible that four people, whether free or behind bars, keep a secret that destroyed an entire family?
Marta del Castillo Seville, teenage murder Seville, unresolved disappearance Spain, Miguel Carcaño, Francisco Carcaño, closed case open, crime Tartesos neighborhood, missing family, Spanish justice, true crime Spanish podcast
If you want to listen to this podcast ad-free and have access to premium episodes, we invite you to try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.
© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and associated materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, is prohibited without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA. For permissions, licenses, and business inquiries, write to:
[email protected].