Aahana Swrup
Maria Jesus Moreno, better known by her nickname “Maje,” made the headlines back in 2018 when she was arrested for the murder of her husband, Antonio Navarro. A year into their marriage, the then 27-year-old woman was already involved in various extramarital affairs. She planned the crime with one of her lovers, Salvador Rodrigo Lapiedra, who carried out the murder by ambushing Navarro in his garage on August 16, 2017. Months into the police investigation, the authorities were able to catch the criminal duo by wiretapping the recently widowed nurse’s phone calls. Netflix’s thriller film ‘A Widow’s Game,’ originally known as ‘La Viuda Negra,’ delves into the same case through a fictional lens, bringing Maje’s masterminded crime to the screen. Naturally, she’s bound to leave an intriguing impression on the audience.
The Police Used Wiretapping to Arrest Maria Jesus Moreno
Hailing from the town of Novelda in Alicante, Spain, María “Maje” Jesús Moreno was born in 1990 to a religious family. She went on to attend a nun school and worked as a nurse in her 20s. At the age of 26, she married 37-year-old Antonio Navarro. A year later, on August 16, 2017, the latter was found stabbed to death in his garage. The police investigation that ensued led to the discovery of Maje’s various affairs. These included relationships with a publicist, a physical therapist, and an older co-worker from the hospital. Salvador Rodrigo Lapiedra AKA Salva worked as a warden in the same hospital as the nurse. As per his account, the woman manipulated him into believing she was the victim of an abusive marriage.
As such, Maje and Salva devised a plan to murder the latter’s husband. Allegedly, the nurse armed her colleague with a key to the garage and informed him about he specifics of his car model. Thus, the warden eventually got the drop on Navarro in his garage, where he brutally stabbed the latter to his death. Inevitably, when the body was discovered, Maje became the prime suspect in the police investigation, especially once they discovered the truth about her extramarital affairs. Consequently, the cops got the permission to wiretap her phone, gaining access to her various conversations with friends, family, and her partner in crime. Eventually, Navarro’s brother was made to believe the police had identified the killer, which compelled the suspect to have incriminating phone conversations with Salva. As a result, both perpetrators were arrested and charged with the crime.
Maria Jesus Moreno is Serving a 22-Year Prison Sentence Today
After Maria Jesus Moreno and Salvador Rodrigo Lapiedra’s arrest, both individuals were separated while detained. Initially, the former claimed that the warden operated off his own violation and that she had nothing to do with her husband’s murder. Nonetheless, evidence proved otherwise as Salve agreed to testify against her in time. Allegedly, his decision to do so was made at the encouragement of his daughter, as well as in light of the news about Maje’s newfound relationship with another inmate in prison.
The trial went on for three years, at the end of which both were found guilty of Navarro’s murder on November 16, 2020. Ultimately, while Salva received a reduced sentence of 17 years, Maje received 22 years of imprisonment. The latter’s sentence was increased due to her relation to the victim. Today, she continues to serve her sentence at Spain’s Picassent penitentiary. During both her provisional detention and post-conviction detention, the former nurse seemingly found pleasant company among the other inmates, initiating a few romantic relationships over the years. As per the sentencing, it’s expected for Maje to see release sometime around 2042.
Maria Jesus Moreno Became a Mother in Prison
Maria Jesus Moreno first entered the prison in 2018, following her arrest. Even though she and Salvador Rodrigo Lapiedra were kept separated for the trial, the two exchanged a handful of letters with each other. However, the former nurse soon began a relationship with another inmate she had met. Even though the prison is separated by sexes, co-existence opportunities remain through activities like swimming, recitals, and more. Thus, it is likely that the couple met during one such instance. Years later, Maje entered a different relationship with a man named David M. R, who was serving a sentence for a murder he committed in 2008.
By late 2022, Maje had gotten pregnant with David’s child. Nonetheless, that relationship only lasted so long and came to an end by 2023. Reports suggest the biological father has exited prison and won’t have much involvement in his kid’s life. As for the expecting mother, she was transferred from Picassent penitentiary to the Fontcalent prison’s Mothers Unit in the later months of her pregnancy. By mid-2023, Maria Jesus Moreno had given birth to her newborn baby. As per the local laws, the baby will stay with the mother at the Mother’s Unit of Fontcalent prison until the age of three.
Since research suggests that kids of that age tend to retain memories and become aware of their surroundings, it remains the limit of the stay for Maje’s baby with their imprisoned mother. As such, it seems the mother would have to part ways with her kid by the middle of 2026. After that, Maje’s child can go on to live with extended family, if they’re willing. However, if not, then the kid will have to go under the charge and be cared for by the Community Social Services. Nonetheless, until then, Maje will continue to care for her child while still serving her prison sentence at the Fontcalent prison in Spain.
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