Second suspect confesses involvement, claims ex-boyfriend of the victim coerced him into participating Recovered WhatsApp messages have exposed chilling details behind the murder of 15-year-old Cloe in Orihuela Costa. The Guardia Civil retrieved deleted chats from the phones of the two teenagers accused of her murder, revealing that they openly discussed and planned the crime in the days leading up to it. Believing the messages would vanish after being read, the pair assumed they had covered their tracks. But the investigators were able to recover the conversations, leaving both suspects cornered. On Friday, the second suspect—also 17 years old—testified before the Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office and confessed to his role in the killing. A day earlier, the victim’s ex-boyfriend had already admitted his involvement, confronted with mounting evidence. The WhatsApp messages are reportedly so explicit that both teens are now attempting to shift blame onto each other. Cloe was brutally killed on November 24, the day before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. From the beginning, investigators suspected it was a gender-based killing, with Cloe’s ex-boyfriend as the prime suspect. He was arrested within hours. Further evidence later led to the arrest of the second suspect in late March. See Also: Two teens implicated in Cloe’s murder According to investigators, while one suspect restrained Cloe by the neck, the other slit her throat with a knife. Both teens remain in juvenile detention centres. Their testimonies last week followed the emergence of the WhatsApp messages that clearly outline their murder plan and assigned roles. Attorney Iván Rodríguez Lorente, who represents the second suspect, confirmed his client’s confession and expressed the boy’s desire to apologise to Cloe’s family. The suspect claims he was pressured into participating by Cloe’s ex-boyfriend, who allegedly said that helping him would make the second boy more accepted among their peers. Conflicting Stories The ex-boyfriend, represented by attorney Encarnación Obdulia Martínez, has given a starkly different version. He claims the motive was drug-related and that the second suspect killed Cloe to “send a message” over a debt. While he admits involvement, he says the second suspect was the true aggressor. However, investigators have found no links between the second boy and any drug-related circles, casting doubt on the debt story. Instead, all signs point to a premeditated act of gender violence, in which the ex-boyfriend allegedly recruited a friend to help execute the murder. Now, both teens are accusing each other of taking the lead. Juan Carlos Fuentes, the lawyer representing Cloe’s family, rejected the drug debt claim outright: “It’s completely false. This was a gender-based crime planned and carried out by two minors.” He praised the thoroughness of the Guardia Civil’s investigation, stating that the confessions have added little to what had already been documented. Though the exact content of the WhatsApp messages has not been made public, sources say the teens spoke candidly about how they intended to kill Cloe. Initially, only messages sent after the murder were known—discussing their escape. But it has now been confirmed that there are messages from before the murder as well, clearly outlining their plan and dividing responsibilities. Dramatic Interrogation The second suspect’s testimony on Friday lasted over three hours and was marked by disruptions. Shortly before proceedings began, a surprise fire drill forced the evacuation of the courthouse, delaying the session by an hour. During questioning, the suspect became visibly distressed, requesting breaks to get fresh air. Two recesses were granted due to his emotional state. The case continues to unfold, but one fact remains clear: the brutal murder of Cloe was not a spontaneous act, but a meticulously planned crime—one that has left a community searching for answers, and a family grieving an unimaginable loss.