'The Asunta Case': Tracing the harrowing real-life events that inspired Netflix's chilling crime series
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GALICIA, SPAIN: Netflix is set to release the gripping crime-thriller mini-series 'The Asunta Case' (aka 'El Caso Asunta') on April 26. Directed by Carlos Sedes and Jacobo Martinez, the series delves into the real-life events surrounding the tragic murder of Asunta Basterra, a young girl just days before her 13th birthday.
Starring Candela Peña, Tristán Ulloa, Javier Gutiérrez, María León, Carlos Blanco, Raúl Arévalo, and Ricardo de Barreiro, among others, 'The Asunta Case' promises to captivate audiences with its intense storyline and compelling performances.
Based on true events, the series offers a glimpse into the chilling circumstances surrounding Asunta Basterra's untimely death.
Who was Asunta Basterra?
Asunta Basterra, originally from Yongzhou, Hunan, China, was adopted by a well-to-do Spanish couple when she was just nine months old. The couple, Alfonso Basterra and Rosario Porto, enjoyed a blissful marriage until early 2013 when Alfonso discovered Rosario's infidelity. Sadly, this revelation led to their divorce, as per The Guardian.
Alfonso temporarily moved away to stay with relatives, only to return three weeks later and settle into a small apartment nearby to remain close to Asunta as she grew up. Despite the challenges, Asunta found solace in spending time with her grandparents and godmother, where she reportedly found happiness.
However, a harrowing incident reportedly took place one night at 2 am when a man, who according to Rosario was wearing black and latex gloves, was bending over Asunta. Rosario claims that she woke up by Asunta's screaming and the man ran out injuring Rosario, as per the outlet.
How did Asunta Basterra die and who killed her?
Asunta Basterra died due to an overdose of Lorazepam and asphyxiation. On September 21, 2014, her parents reported her to be missing. Her body was discovered in the early hours of September 22, 2014, just 5km away from Rosario Porto's country house in Teo. Investigators had determined that Asunta's mouth and nose were covered and that caused her to die from asphyxiation, as per EL PAÍS.
While there was no physical evidence, the police reportedly found a sound reason to arrest Rosario Porto in a CCTV footage from a gas station, which showed Porto driving her car towards her country home with a long-haired girl. The timecode of the footage revealed that the footage was taken at a different time from Rosario Porto's version where Asunta was supposed to be home.
Rosario had been taking Lorazepam for the treatment of Anxiety, and in the forensic report, it was revealed that Asunta's samples had highly toxic levels of Lorazepam. Porto's psychologist also revealed that she felt overwhelmed by Asunta, as per the source.
What happened to Rosario Porto?
Rosario Porto and her husband Alfonso Basterra, were both arrested on September 24, for the alleged crime of homicide. They were both found guilty initially but the High Court of Justice of Galicia found Alfonso Basterra not guilty of the crime but maintained the sentence for collaborating and planning in the murder. Both Alfonso and Rosario were sentenced to 18 years in prison, as per The Straits Times.
Rosario reportedly took her own life on November 18, 2020, and hung herself from a window while she served the sentence. She had already served 7 years of her sentence in different penitentiaries and also attempted to harm herself multiple times during her sentence, once in February 2017 and once in November 2018.
What was Operación Nenúfar or Operation Water Lily?
The investigation of the case was called Operation Water Lily or Operación Nenúfar by the detectives who were investigating the Asunta case. The detectives noted that Asunta was wearing a white shirt and her body appeared like a floating flower in the moonlight, as per Course Hero.
'The Asunta Case' or 'El Caso Asunta' Trailer
'The Asunta Case' (aka 'El Caso Asunta') is all set to stream on Netflix on April 26
