Murder Victim's Sister Harassed for Seeking Justice

Priscila González's life changed dramatically on July 30. The day before, her brother, Alberto González Padrón, had been kidnapped and beaten to death in a garage in Santa María del Mar (Santa Cruz de Tenerife). In the early hours that followed, two of the suspected attackers, believed by investigators to be members of the Añaza Gang, took his body to a National Police Station. As if this wasn't traumatic enough, Priscila claims she has faced other crimes since then.

She has endured death threats, insults, and harassment, both in person and online, in recent months. "You're next on the list," one of the people now arrested for the tragic event allegedly told Priscila and two friends as they walked near the Palace of Justice in Tenerife's capital.

Priscila shared this account of events with national police officers. It was a clear threat and a warning to others.

She believes this harassment is happening because she has dared to seek justice for her brother and another young man, León, who was with him. León was seriously injured in the same incident after a member of the Añaza Gang set a trap for them. Other family members have also experienced this harassment.

Alberto González Padrón lived in the El Cardonal neighborhood in La Laguna, had a criminal record, and had spent time in prison. His sister says she hasn't been able to grieve peacefully for his violent death and has had to seek help from a psychiatrist.

EL DÍA reported that the National Police are investigating who is behind certain social media accounts, particularly on Instagram. These accounts were created after the murder specifically to attack the victim's family and witnesses.

The goal is to find out if those involved in this online harassment are connected to the Añaza Gang. Members of this gang were arrested by the Homicide Group for murder, illegal detention, and being part of a criminal organization. So far, 15 men have been arrested, including Aarón Vargas, who is considered their leader.

The court handling the case ordered eight of those arrested to be imprisoned.

In one of her complaints, seen by EL DÍA, Priscila explained that an Instagram account called @Justiciaparamischicos was opened first. She reported it, and it was eventually closed.

However, she stated in her complaint that they allegedly have another page open on the same social network, called @Hablenconlaverdad. On this page, they publish "all the videos they've taken of me when I've gone to trials," or when she has spoken to different media outlets about the murder.

Priscila wrote to them, asking to be left alone and to be allowed to grieve, saying, "all I want is justice for my brother." But, she says, those behind the account responded by blocking her.

She also states that several acquaintances have informed her and sent screenshots showing that on another account, @Todoesmentira.20, photos of her, her family, and her murdered brother have been published, along with descriptions of each of them.

For example, they claim Priscila is involved in drug trafficking, organized crime, and money laundering. They assert that her children are leaders of the alleged organization, responsible for funding the drug trafficking gang, or that they have been in several prisons.

They have also commented that she has AIDS, that she "worked the streets" (was a prostitute), that she has always been a heroin addict, or that her father raped her.

In her complaint, she clarifies that these attacks have forced her to seek help from a mental health professional.

Sometimes, messages are sent to her through family members. One message said: "You can give a message to your cousin or whoever the hell Priscila is, that wherever I see her I'm going to run her over; the crazy, cowardly bitch, who only knows how to talk to the press and doesn't show her face; the cowardly bitch and let her go (sic) asking for justice for herself; the old-fucking junkie bitch who stole her mother's boyfriend for 4 hits, hahaha."

But there have also been direct, in-person threats and harassment, just inches away.

One such incident was reported to the National Police. On September 26, at 7:50 PM, Priscila and two friends were on their way to the Duty Investigating Court to report another case of insults, slander, and threats against one of them.

Near the Palace of Justice in Santa Cruz, the three women saw a large group of dozens of people.

Among them were Aarón Vargas's sister and a man who was later arrested for his alleged involvement in Alberto's kidnapping and murder.

According to the subsequent complaint, this man approached them with a threatening attitude, standing very close. He began to blow his nose (pressing one nostril with a finger) with the intention of smearing Priscila with his snot, while also spitting.

He also allegedly intimidated the three women by saying: "You're next on the list." Priscila believes this is the price she is paying for demanding justice for her brother Alberto.