In a small town in Alicante, Spain, a mother’s love and determination led her to take matters into her own hands. Maria del Carmen Garcia’s world was shattered when her 13-year-old daughter, Veronica Rodriguez Garcia, was brutally raped by their neighbor, Antonio Cosme, in 1998. Despite the trauma and the disbelief of some in the community, Maria stood by her daughter and fought for justice.
Cosme was eventually convicted and sentenced to nine years in prison. But after serving just seven years, he was released on parole. It was then that he crossed paths with Maria, taunting her about her daughter’s ordeal. Unable to bear the pain and injustice any longer, Maria snapped.
She purchased a bottle of gasoline, found Cosme, and doused him with the fuel. In a moment of intense rage and desperation, she set him on fire. Cosme suffered severe burns and died a week later as a result.
Maria was arrested and found guilty of killing Cosme. She was sentenced to nine and a half years in prison. However, many people were outraged by the verdict, considering the brutal crime that had been committed against her daughter. Petitions were started, appeals were launched, and public opinion swayed in support of Maria.
In 2010, her sentence was reduced to five and a half years after her attorney argued that she had acted under temporary insanity. Her sentence was temporarily put on hold in 2011, pending a pardon application. Unfortunately, the application was rejected in 2013, prolonging Maria’s fight for freedom.
Finally, in 2018, Maria was released, marking the end of her harrowing journey. Her story inspired a documentary series on HBO Max called Hell on Earth: The Verónica Case. The series aimed to shed light on the truth and challenge the misconceptions held by some in the village who still believed in Cosme’s innocence.
Veronica, now a young woman, stands by her mother’s actions. In the face of relentless media attention, she remains fiercely protective of Maria. Their bond, forged through tragedy and strength, remains unbreakable.
