José María Jarabo

Identity

José María Jarabo was a Spanish spree killer.

Timeline

• April 28, 1923 — José María Jarabo was born in Madrid, Spain.
• July 19, 1958 — Jarabo went to the Fernandez house.
• July 21, 1958 — Jarabo went to the store where Félix López worked.
• July 22, 1958 — Jarabo took a bloody suit to the dry cleaners; he was arrested a few hours later.
• July 4, 1959 — Jarabo was executed by garrote vil.

Background

José María Jarabo was born in Madrid, Spain, on April 28, 1923. A few years later, he moved to Miami, Florida, in the United States with his family. He hated the United States and committed his first crime there, described as trafficking of human beings, for which he was arrested and sentenced to a term of three years in prison. He was confined in a psychiatric hospital in Springfield, Florida. After he was released, he returned to Spain a few years later, in the 1940s.

In Spain Jarabo befriended many rich people and began a career as a gambler using money that his mother sent him from Puerto Rico. According to Jarabo’s friends, he spent a lot of money on poker and blackjack. In 1950, he began drinking heavily and using a lot of drugs. As the years went by, his financial situation became more dire because his mother stopped sending him money.

Jarabo was described as being handsome and apparently irresistible to women, with many conquests. He had a British girlfriend named Beryl Martin who wanted to sell a ring. She gave it to Jarabo, who sold it to businessmen Emilio Fernandez and Félix López for a small sum. A few months later, Martin asked Jarabo to get the ring back. Jarabo decided to kill the two men rather than paying for it.

The offence

Between July 19 and July 21, 1958, José María Jarabo murdered four adults and an unborn baby.

July 19, 1958: Fernandez household

On July 19, 1958, Jarabo went to the Fernandez house. A 26-year-old servant woman allowed him to enter after Jarabo said that he was a police inspector. Once inside, Jarabo waited for Fernandez, while the servant went to the kitchen to do some housework.

Planning to murder Fernandez and not wanting to leave a witness, Jarabo took an iron and hit the woman on the head. She tried to defend herself, but Jarabo grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed her to death.

After killing the young woman, Jarabo hid and waited for his main victim. When Fernandez arrived home, Jarabo shot him in the head, killing him. Jarabo then looked for the ring but did not find it.

Amparo Alonso entered the house and saw Jarabo. The woman asked, “Who are you?” Jarabo again claimed that he was a police inspector, but the woman did not believe him and tried to run. Jarabo shot her, killing the pregnant Amparo and her unborn baby. Jarabo slept there and returned to his hotel the next morning.

July 21, 1958: Félix López

On July 21, 1958, Jarabo went to the store where Félix López worked. Jarabo hid and waited. When the businessman showed up, Jarabo shot him to the head.

Investigation, arrest, and prosecution

On July 22, 1958, Jarabo took a bloody suit to the dry cleaners. The dry cleaners promptly notified the police. A few hours later, he was arrested.

He was tried and convicted of the murders and received the death sentence for each of them.

Outcome and aftermath

José María Jarabo was executed on July 4, 1959, by garrote vil.