The babysitter accused of killing a foreign couple in Lagos will be tried in detention: Bodies were found in a water tank

In the investigation into the murder of a foreign couple in Lagos, Portugal's Algarve region, a detention order was issued for the 45-year-old person who worked as a caregiver at the couple's home.

The bodies of a 79-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman were found in the water tank of the property where they lived in Odiáxere.

According to Polícia Judiciária, the suspect is being investigated in connection with two counts of aggravated murder and desecration of a corpse.

However, the trial has not started yet and the suspect's guilt has not been confirmed by the court.

The couple had been living in Portugal for years

According to the information provided by PJ, both victims were foreign nationals and had been living in Portugal for many years.

The 79-year-old man and the 62-year-old woman were operators operating in the healthcare sector.

The suspect was working as a caregiver for the couple.

Police cite findings of “extreme violence”

According to PJ's initial findings, the couple was attacked with a hard object in their own home.

It is considered that the serious injuries they received resulted in death.

Police say that after the attack, the bodies were dragged to a water tank on the property and stored there.

Retrieving the bodies required a long and technically difficult operation due to their location and condition.

Lagos fire brigade also supported the operation.

Suspicion of chemical use

One of the most striking details of the investigation was the discovery of the corpses. Allegation that chemical substances were spilled.

PJ considers that the suspect may have used chemical products to accelerate the decomposition or disposal of the bodies.

This detail is also part of the investigation and the entire incident has not yet been proven in the judicial process.

How was the suspect found?

The suspect was found near the property by GNR after the incident was revealed.

According to PJ, he had on him a significant amount of money and valuables that could belong to the victims.

However, police say that the exact cause of the murders has not been determined at this stage.

Therefore, the presence of money or valuables alone does not mean that robbery was the motivation for the murder.

Detention trial decision was given

After his interrogation in Portimão, the 45-year-old suspect was subjected to prisão preventiva, that is, detention, which is the most severe judicial control measure.

This decision does not mean that the person is convicted.

In Portuguese law, prisão preventiva is a protective measure that can be applied in case there are certain risks of escape, interference with evidence or continuation of the crime while the investigation and trial are ongoing.

Allegations of two aggravated murder and disrespect of the corpse against the suspect will be evaluated in the next criminal investigation and possible trial.

Why did it attract attention for the foreign community living in the Algarve?

Lagos and its surroundings have the largest foreign resident population in Portugal. It is one of the densely populated areas.

The fact that the victims were foreigners who had been living in Portugal for a long time made the incident particularly visible to the international community in the Algarve.

However, there is no confirmed evidence that the incident was an immigration or nationality-based crime.

The investigation is currently focusing on the relationship between the victims and the person working for them and the possible motivation for the incident.

Resources

Diário de Notícias — Ricardo Simões Ferreira, 12 September 2026

https://www.dn.pt/sociedade/lagos-pj-detm-caseiro-por-suspeita-de-matar-casal-para-quem-trabalhava

Algarve Primeiro — 12 September 2026

https://www.algarveprimeiro.com/d/lagos-caseiro-suspeito-de-matar-casal-de-estrangeiros-e-esconder-corpos-numa-cisterna/67916-1