Rosa Peral is currently serving a 25-year prison sentence for the murder of her ex-boyfriend and fellow police officer Pedro Rodríguez in 2017. Her story captivated Spain and sparked intense media coverage at the time. But where is Rosa Peral now, over 6 years later?
What Did Rosa Peral Do?
In May 2017, Pedro Rodríguez’s badly burned body was found in a car near Barcelona. An investigation revealed that Rosa Peral, Rodríguez’s ex-girlfriend and fellow member of the Guardia Urbana police force, was having an affair with another officer, Albert López.
Peral and López became the main suspects. They each blamed the other for Rodríguez’s murder. Prosecutors alleged they had worked together to plan the crime meticulously. After a lengthy trial, Peral was sentenced to 25 years in prison, while López received 20 years.
The case sparked a media frenzy in Spain. The intimate details of the trio’s relationships and sex lives were heavily scrutinized. Peral was portrayed as a femme fatale who manipulated numerous men. However, her supporters argued she was unfairly targeted by the media.
How is Peral’s Life in Prison? Where is She Now?
Rosa Peral is currently incarcerated at the Mas d’Enric penitentiary near Tarragona in northeastern Spain. She shares a cell with another inmate that she reportedly gets along with. Her father and daughters come to visit her once a month.
In prison, Peral spends time reading, studying, and working shifts to earn money. She has taken accounting courses and also makes fabric face masks that are sold to raise funds for the prison.
Peral still firmly maintains her innocence. In 2020, she told Spanish media she had been “unjustly condemned” and vowed to continue fighting to prove she wasn’t involved in Rodríguez’s murder.
How Did Peral’s Not Guilty Appeals Go?
Shortly after her conviction, Peral launched appeals in Spanish High Court and Supreme Court to overturn the guilty verdict. However, both appeals were rejected, upholding her original 25-year sentence.
In September 2021, the Supreme Court did annul one aggravating factor of premeditation that added extra years to her sentence. But the core guilty verdict remained.
Peral insists she is the victim of a miscarriage of justice. She claims López threatened and coerced her into disposing of Rodríguez’s body after López killed him. Her lawyers argue there is no evidence showing she actively participated in planning or carrying out the murder.
The case continues to spark debate about the sensationalist media coverage and sexist tropes that may have tainted Peral’s public image and influenced the outcome of her trial.
What’s Peral’s Take On Netfix Documentary on Her?
In September 2022, Netflix released a true crime documentary called “Rosa Peral’s Tapes” featuring exclusive interviews with Peral in prison. It provides her perspective of the case and assertions of innocence.
That same month, Netflix also launched a fictional miniseries titled “Burning Body” dramatizing the events surrounding the murder. It depicts Peral as a manipulative femme fatale. She has criticized the “malicious” portrayal.
The recent projects have brought renewed attention to Rosa Peral’s story. But she remains steadfast that she was wrongfully convicted and hopes to one day prove her innocence and reunite with her family outside of prison walls.
The tragic case continues to polarize public opinion in Spain. Some view Peral as a victim of injustice seeking redemption, while others see her as an unrepentant murderer who spun lies to avoid punishment. Her quest to overturn her conviction could take years more in Spain’s complex legal system.
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Wherever the truth lies, the story of Rosa Peral stands as a cautionary tale about love, lies, and the simmering danger of intimate relationships gone horribly wrong. Her name will likely remain etched in Spain’s collective memory, for better or worse.
