Mysterious death of Catalan architect Josep Juanpere: partner arrested, key witness in coma

A new and mysterious case has shaken Catalan society. Nine months after the death of renowned architect Josep Juanpere at his home in Baqueira, what initially appeared to be a death from natural causes has taken an unexpected turn: the Catalan police have arrested his partner over her alleged involvement in his death. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Juanpere, 72, had gone to the hospital in Vielha just two days before he died, after feeling unwell. The first autopsy did not detect any signs of violence, but doubts about the circumstances of his death led to the opening of an investigation which, months later, has this week resulted in the arrest of the woman who was with him during his final hours. The architect died on 26 December 2025 at his second home in Baqueira, in the Val d'Aran (Lleida), where he was spending the Christmas holidays with his partner. Two days earlier, on Christmas Eve, he had gone to the hospital in Vielha after feeling ill and remained there for several hours under observation. Initially, everything pointed to a natural death. The first forensic examination found no signs of violence and attributed his death to a heart problem. However, the circumstances of his death ultimately came under investigation by the court in Vielha, which is keeping proceedings under seal. The case has taken a turn this week with the arrest in Madrid of Juanpere's partner, a woman of around 63, over her alleged link to the architect's death. According to the newspaper "El Mundo", she comes from a family that made its fortune in the property and hotel sectors and has close ties to prominent social and business circles. Investigators have also carried out searches and other procedural steps, while the detainee awaits her appearance before the court handling the case. Another development now added to the investigation has caused further unease: according to "El Confidencial", Juanpere's nephew, regarded as a key witness because he was the one who found the architect's body, is currently in a coma. The newspaper reports that he has been in a private clinic for weeks with a lung condition. From Vielha hospital to his death in Baqueira The last 48 hours of Juanpere's life are seen as one of the key elements in the case. The architect began to feel unwell on 24 December and went to the hospital in Vielha, where he was treated and kept under observation for several hours, according to local media. He later returned to the house in Baqueira where he was spending Christmas. Two days later, on 26 December, he was found dead in the property. According to reports on the investigation, relatives of Juanpere had tried to contact him without success. Eventually, one of his nephews went to the house and stayed for nearly an hour at the door, knocking but getting no answer, until the architect's partner opened up. On entering, he found Juanpere lifeless and the woman apparently in a state of shock, according to the newspaper "El Periódico". At that time, nothing obviously indicated a violent death, although one detail attracted attention: Juanpere's partner had not alerted the emergency services beforehand. The body showed no external signs of violence and the first forensic conclusions pointed to death from natural causes. Even so, the case was not closed. The surrounding circumstances led investigators to keep digging, and the court in Vielha eventually opened an inquiry that has been conducted discreetly for months. The nephew who found Juanpere, now in a coma Josep Juanpere's nephew, a key figure in reconstructing the circumstances in which the architect was found, is currently in a coma, according to "El Confidencial". He was the one who went to the house in Baqueira on 26 December after the family had been unable to reach Juanpere. After spending nearly an hour knocking on the door, the architect's partner finally let him in. When he entered the property, he found his uncle dead and the woman apparently in a state of shock. His testimony is especially important to investigators because he was one of the first people to enter the house after Juanpere's death and was able to see directly the state of the property and those present. An initial autopsy that found no signs of violence One of the main unanswered questions relates to the initial forensic conclusions. The first autopsy found no indication of violence and pointed to a heart problem as the cause of death. Those findings explain why Juanpere's death was initially treated as natural. Subsequent investigations, however, led to a broader inquiry into what happened during his final hours. Nine months on, investigators believe there is sufficient basis to examine a possible unlawful killing and to arrest the person who was with the architect during those days. The secrecy surrounding the proceedings means it is not yet known what specific evidence prompted this change of course, or exactly what theory investigators are working with about how the death may have occurred. Nor have all the results of later forensic tests been made public, or the key element that led to a death initially deemed natural being investigated as a possible homicide. Juanpere's partner arrested The woman who was with Juanpere over that Christmas period is now at the centre of the investigation. After around nine months of inquiries, the Catalan police have arrested her in Madrid over her alleged involvement in the architect's death. Investigators have sought to reconstruct what happened between Juanpere's visit to the hospital on 24 December and his death two days later, a period regarded as crucial to clarifying the case. The detainee will have to appear before the judicial authorities, and it will be for the judge to determine her legal status and decide on any precautionary measures. Her arrest does not amount to a declaration of guilt and, as the proceedings continue, she remains protected by the presumption of innocence. Searches and an investigation under seal The arrest has been accompanied by new police measures linked to the investigation. As the case remains under seal, very few details have emerged about the evidence collected over these nine months or about the elements investigators regard as relevant to clarifying the death. This lack of information means some of the key questions in the case remain unanswered: what happened after Juanpere returned from hospital, what took place during his final hours, and what investigators have uncovered that led from an apparently natural death to a suspected criminal killing. The answers will now depend on the progress of the judicial investigation and the outcome of the steps being taken. Who was Josep Juanpere? Josep Juanpere i Miret was co-founder of GCA Architects, one of Spain's leading architecture and interior design practices involved in major corporate, hotel and residential projects. Juanpere set up the studio in Barcelona in 1986 together with Antonio Puig. Over the years, GCA worked on numerous schemes for major national and international companies and brands. Juanpere also had a close friendship with Isak Andic, the founder of Mango, whose death likewise ended up under judicial scrutiny. Andic died in December 2024 after falling into a ravine during a hike in Montserrat. The case, initially closed and later reopened, eventually led to his son Jonathan Andic coming under investigation; he was arrested in May 2026 over his alleged involvement in his father's death. The relationship between Juanpere and Andic went beyond the personal sphere. GCA Architects worked for Mango on various projects, and Juanpere was responsible for the interior design of the "Nirvana Formentera", Andic's yacht. After the businessman's death, Juanpere penned a moving tribute in which he described him as a "great friend".