Ana Buza was born in Carmona, a charming town in southeastern Spain. As the cherished daughter of Antonio Buza, a mathematician, and Patty Mira, she was raised in a loving environment where her natural curiosity was encouraged. From a young age, Ana Buza developed a love for reading, a passion fostered by her father’s encouragement. She was known for her affectionate nature, loyalty, and strong sense of justice—traits that made her a beloved figure in her community.
Ana’s interests were as diverse as her spirit. Alongside her academic achievements, she enjoyed skating and watching films in their original languages to capture their true essence. Her enthusiasm for learning extended to her pursuit of writing; as a young adult, she began crafting her own novels, weaving stories filled with imagination and authenticity.
Ana Buza’s commitment to education was reflected in her high school performance, finishing with an impressive score of 13.675 out of 14. Following her graduation, she enrolled at the University of Seville to study philosophy, excelling in her studies and earning her driver’s license—a milestone that delighted her family.
Meeting Rafael
In the fall of 2018, Ana Buza met Rafael, a man six years her senior, who would later become her boyfriend. Their relationship, however, soon raised concerns among those around her. Rafael exhibited possessive and controlling behaviors, even monitoring her during classes. Alarmed, a concerned classmate reported his actions to the university’s gender violence prevention office, but her concerns were dismissed. Rafael’s behavior grew increasingly intrusive as he gained access to Ana’s passwords, monitored her phone, and restricted her from socializing with friends.
By March 2019, six months into the relationship, Ana Buza experienced her first incident of physical violence. Isolated and struggling to make sense of her situation, she reached out to a former school counselor for support, choosing not to inform her parents to avoid causing them worry. She pursued therapy while maintaining her academic excellence, completing her first year of philosophy with high marks. Yet, Rafael’s financial dependency on her became apparent, as she covered his expenses for everything from his gym membership to his dog’s food.
In September 2019, Ana Buza returned to Carmona to continue her studies. Spending time with her family and friends, she appeared distant, and her social circle had shrunk, marked by her decision to close her social media accounts. Her father, Antonio, grew concerned as he noticed her increasing isolation. One weekend, she informed her parents that she would be attending a couple’s workshop with Rafael, which her father found strange for such a young couple. Assuring him she was fine, Ana spent the evening away.
Read more The Horrible Massacre Of The Gee Family
The Tragic Night
Though Ana had planned to stay at Rafael’s mother’s house that night, events took a sudden turn. Around midnight, Ana Buza, Rafael, and his father left the residence in Rafael’s car, with Ana seated in the back. Tragically, Ana’s life came to an abrupt end in a car accident at around 3 AM. Her body was found a short distance from the vehicle, and although paramedics attempted to save her, their efforts were unsuccessful. Rafael, meanwhile, sustained only minor injuries and offered conflicting explanations for the accident, claiming at first to have swerved to avoid an animal and later that he was distracted by looking at a nearby river.
The circumstances surrounding the accident raised suspicions. Authorities questioned why Ana Buza’s body was outside the car, with no evidence of a broken windshield or window. Rafael suggested she might have thrown herself from the vehicle, citing a supposed argument she’d had with her father. Inside Ana’s purse, police found a planner noting an appointment with a psychologist, which led to speculative conclusions about her mental health.
Ana’s body was taken to the Institute of Legal Medicine for examination. During the investigation, it emerged that Rafael’s mother had arrived at the scene, where she claimed to have found Ana Buza’s phone and handed it to a police officer. The loss of Ana Buza left a profound void in her family and community, and her story remains a haunting reminder of a life full of promise, tragically cut short.
The Devastating News
At 7 AM on Saturday, September 7, 2019, Antonio awoke to a knock on his door. His initial reaction was to fear a robbery, but instead, he was confronted by officers bearing the tragic news of his daughter Ana’s passing under strange circumstances. The officers shared Rafael’s version of events, a story that immediately raised suspicions. Known for her strength and joyful nature, Ana had shown no signs of distress, yet Rafael was neither detained nor questioned thoroughly, and crucial witnesses were left uncontacted.
In the days that followed, Antonio and his wife Patty grieved with the entire town of Carmona, where friends and family mourned the loss of Ana Buza. However, on Monday, September 9, doubts began to plague Antonio’s mind, prompting him to confront Rafael’s father, who dismissed his questions and refused to discuss the tragedy. This encounter left Antonio determined to find answers. His suspicions deepened when he spoke with Rafael, whose story continued to change. At first, Rafael claimed Ana Buza had fallen while trying to retrieve her backpack, which supposedly fell from an open door.
The official investigation left many questions unanswered. Toxicology reports showed no drugs or alcohol in Ana’s system, yet within hours of her death, her body was cremated, leaving little room for further forensic analysis. By then, Antonio’s search for the truth had become a personal mission. He pursued legal action and soon discovered the case had been closed in just 36 hours. Uncovering five different versions of Rafael’s story, none supported by the evidence, Antonio filed a petition to reopen the case, though it was initially dismissed.
Independent Investigation
Determined to reveal the truth, Antonio launched a private investigation. He hired a team of specialists—a criminologist, a forensic expert, and an accident reconstruction specialist—keeping each expert’s involvement private to ensure impartial conclusions. Antonio discovered that key evidence, including security footage from the road, had not been requested by authorities and was erased 17 days later. Undeterred, Antonio personally returned to the accident site. Nineteen days after the incident, he found Ana Buza’s phone, missing its case, just a few feet from where her body had been found—an item the police could not explain.
The investigation conducted by Antonio’s team revealed disturbing inconsistencies. Files on Ana’s computer had been deleted, and upon examination, they argued it would have been nearly impossible for Ana to open the car door at such high speeds. According to Newton’s laws and the speed of the vehicle, Ana Buza would have needed extraordinary strength to open the door and jump from a moving car going 80 miles per hour, especially with an additional headwind that night. Her injuries, depicted in autopsy photos, contradicted the notion of a high-speed fall, as there were no road burns typical of such accidents.
Antonio’s team even reconstructed the accident using a car identical to the one involved, ultimately concluding that Ana Buza had exited the car following an argument, only to be struck by Rafael at high speed. With mounting evidence, Antonio’s persistence led to the case being reopened by the provincial court in November 2019. The private prosecution requested testimony from eyewitnesses and Ana’s psychologist to bring new details to light, setting the stage for a renewed search for justice.
Read more Martine Vik: A Life Lost After a Party Gone Wrong
Initial Breakthroughs and Growing Concerns
As the investigation into Ana’s death unfolded, a crucial detail came to light: the psychologist involved in the case had been Rafael’s therapist, not Ana’s. This revelation indicated that Ana Buza had shown signs of gender-based violence, yet Antonio believed the questions directed at the therapist during the hearing were insufficient. When Antonio and Patty pushed for more comprehensive inquiries, both the police and forensic experts stood by their initial conclusions. However, Ana’s parents were relentless in their pursuit, advocating for her case to be transferred to a gender-based violence court—a battle met with resistance from Rafael’s attorney, Alejandro Gomez, who aimed to have the case closed.
On July 3, 2020, nearly a year after Ana’s tragic death, Rafael was formally charged, moving from a witness to a suspect. At Antonio’s insistence, Ana’s phone was analyzed, uncovering that two hours before her death, a search had been made for information on ways to end one’s life. Antonio, however, pointed out that the search lasted only 24 seconds, and since Rafael had access to her phone, it remained unclear who conducted it. Suspicion deepened when the family learned that Rafael’s mother had taken a significant dose of pills that same night.
The police report detailed Ana Buza’s social environment as typical for a young woman her age, with a supportive family and close relationship with her parents. While Rafael’s jealous behavior was noted, authorities dismissed suspicions of intentional harm. Additionally, while an analysis of Rafael’s phone for geolocation data was planned, no data was recovered, stalling progress in the case.
A New Judge and Renewed Investigation
In September 2022, the case took a turn when a new judge replaced the previous one. Shocked that the case hadn’t been moved to the gender violence court, the judge approved previously denied requests, calling for a reconstruction of the accident and a detailed autopsy. Experts from the Institute of Legal Medicine in Seville reviewed the findings and conducted an on-site inspection, concluding that there had been no deliberate collision. Rafael’s lawyer responded with satisfaction, defending the report’s conclusions as credible and claiming that earlier reports were flawed attempts to incriminate his client.
Refusing to accept the findings, Antonio and Patty continued their quest for justice. In March 2023, Carmona’s main square filled with over 4,000 supporters demanding accountability and an end to gender-based violence. Holding banners bearing Ana Buza’s image, attendees stood in solidarity with her grieving parents. Antonio expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support as they navigated this painful journey.
In late August 2023, Rafael’s mother testified, claiming she had handed Ana’s phone to a guard on the night of the incident, though this added little clarity to the situation. Shortly after, the provincial court of Seville finally ordered the case to be transferred to the gender violence court. With more time for investigation, an expert hired by Ana’s family revealed in early 2024 that data had been intentionally deleted from Ana’s phone both before and after her death. The deletions, manually executed, suggested a deliberate attempt to erase information.
Read more Isabel Martinez: A Mother’s Descent into Darkness
A Father’s Relentless Pursuit
While the expert prepared a detailed report, Antonio and Patty pressed on, undeterred by the obstacles. Though further developments remain pending, Ana’s family continues to seek justice, driven by a deep love for their daughter and a commitment to ensuring her story is fully understood.
Despite countless setbacks, Antonio and Patty have remained steadfast in their mission to uncover the truth about their daughter Ana Buza’s tragic death. Her story, filled with unanswered questions and mysterious circumstances, has only fueled their resolve to seek justice.
