Remains of Missing Man Found in Valencia Flat After Storm Alice

The skeletal remains of a man, missing for over 15 years, were discovered in his apartment following flooding caused by Storm Alice in La Fuensanta, Valencia. The remains of Antonio F., a retired bricklayer born in 1936, were found on Saturday after water from the storm infiltrated the building. Local authorities, responding to a leak reported by the son of an elderly resident living below, uncovered the tragic scene that had gone unnoticed for years.

Firefighters accessed the sixth-floor flat, located on Luis Fenollet Street, using a ladder from a high-rise vehicle. Upon entering, they were greeted by a swarm of pigeons that had nested in the home. Neighbors had last seen Antonio in 2010, leading many to believe he had relocated to a retirement home. The apartment, now described as a “disaster zone,” was filled with pigeon droppings, dead birds, and up to two feet of sand, with water leaking from the terrace.

Inside, firefighters found Antonio’s remains in the bedroom. A subsequent search by the National Police and forensic teams revealed additional bones in the living room, likely moved by the pigeons that occupied the space. Despite the grim discovery, detectives from the National Police’s Homicide Unit do not suspect foul play. The apartment was reportedly locked from the inside with a sliding bolt, indicating that the man had been alone at the time of his death.

The body has been transported to Valencia’s Institute of Forensic Medicine for a post-mortem examination. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance continues, but officials are grappling with the unusual nature of the case.

The situation unfolded after heavy rains from Storm Alice, which brought 6.3 inches of rainfall in just 24 hours, triggered flooding in the region. Valencia’s east coast was under an orange alert due to the severe weather conditions. The storm’s impact echoes that of a more powerful DANA storm in October 2024, which resulted in significant casualties across the area.

The son of the elderly woman living below Antonio’s flat initially contacted insurance representatives regarding the leak. He explained to local media, “The water was coming into my mum’s bedroom as well as through the ceiling of her bathroom and dining room.” He had not seen Antonio in years and believed the water was seeping in through broken windows. After investigating, they discovered that a blockage in the guttering had caused the water to overflow, prompting the firefighters’ entry into the apartment.

Antonio’s personal life had been marked by isolation. He had separated from his wife and was estranged from his two sons. Surprisingly, payments for his rent and utility bills had continued, as his pension was deposited directly into his bank account. Neighbors had assumed he had moved away, with mail often discarded or delivered to the property manager.

The unsettling discovery raises questions about community awareness and the circumstances that allowed Antonio’s death to go unnoticed for so long. With the ongoing investigation, local residents are left reflecting on the implications of such a tragic and mysterious situation.