Movies

The Dark Secrets of Netflix’s A Widow’s Game: A Real-Life Murder Plot Unveiled!

BBG News

On the 16th of August, 2017, I, a 36-year-old industrial engineer named Antonio Navarro Cerdán, was preparing to head to work in Valencia, Spain from my home in the Patraix neighborhood. My wife, María Jesús Moreno Cantó, who goes by Maje, was with me at the time. Tragically, before I could start the car, I was attacked in our building’s garage by an unknown assailant hiding among the vehicles. Struck in the chest, I lost my life at the scene that very morning.

Since the beginning, it was determined that robbery wasn’t the reason behind the crime – nothing was stolen. However, the situation soon took a sinister turn, uncovering a meticulously planned scheme with widow Maje at its core. This chilling true tale of deceit, manipulation, and cold-blooded murder serves as the inspiration for the latest Spanish thriller titled A Widow’s Game (La Viuda Negra), set to debut on Netflix on May 30th.

Here’s everything you need to know about the true crime behind the Netflix film.

The widow

When Antonio was killed, Maje was 27 years old and was known as sweet, self-absorbed, and charming. Working as a nurse at a city hospital, she was portrayed in the media as a young widow deeply saddened by an unnecessary tragedy. She openly showed disbelief about the cruelty of the murder. However, investigators found her composure during initial interrogations to be unusual. News outlets mentioned that her reactions didn’t seem consistent with someone truly mourning.

The probe delved into the close associates of the victim, and it wasn’t long before it was found that Maje was living a secret life. Contrary to her portrayal as a loyal spouse, she was involved in numerous extra-marital relationships. One such relationship, with Salvador Rodrigo Lapiedra, a custodian at her hospital, played a crucial role in the case. Salvador was captivated by Maje, who nurtured his affection with hints of a shared future and tales of supposed domestic abuse. Listening devices picked up damning discussions between them, suggesting that they had premeditated Antonio’s murder.

The premeditated crime

Maje persuaded Salvador to commit a murder. He secretly stayed in the couple’s garage in Valencia, armed with a kitchen knife, while Maje was not at home. Salvador then waited for Antonio, attacked him unexpectedly, and fatally stabbed him. Maje had shared crucial details about her husband’s routine, his usual departure times, preferred routes, and even provided the garage keys to her accomplice, Salvador.

1. The crime had been carefully orchestrated. The murder instrument was thrown away in a septic tank on Salvadore’s land, not to be found until several months later, with his cooperation, following his confession.

2. The plot for the crime was intricately set up. The murder tool was hidden in a sewage pit on Salvador’s estate and wasn’t retrieved till many months later, with his assistance, after he had confessed.

3. The criminal act was methodically arranged. The weapon used for the murder was dumped in a cesspool on Salvadore’s premises and wasn’t discovered until several months down the line, thanks to his help, following his admission.

4. The crime was thoughtfully organized. The murder weapon was tossed into a septic tank on Salvatore’s property and wasn’t found until several months had passed, with his assistance, after he confessed.

5. The criminal act was skillfully planned. The murder weapon was discarded in a cesspit on Salvador’s land and wouldn’t be recovered until many months later, with his help, following his confession.

The fall of the Black Widow of Patraix

In January of 2018, both Maje and Salvador were taken into custody. At first, Salvador attempted to shield Maje, but following the revelation that she had formed a romantic relationship with another inmate during their time in detention, he altered his account. Now, in a fresh declaration, he confesses to having participated in the murder, with Maje’s active support and inspiration throughout the process.

In his testimony, Salvador clarified that while he initially claimed the idea as his own during the proceedings, he now acknowledges that it was actually a joint effort between him and the other party. This revelation was made clear in the final scenes of the film.

As per Salvador’s account, Maje presented herself as a victim who had suffered both psychological and physical abuse at the hands of her husband. She shared with him that if her husband passed away, she would gain freedom without having to go through a divorce. This situation would mean that she would lose out on a widow’s pension and any potential inheritance.

Maje asserted that she had no part in her husband’s demise. However, the court uncovered an abundance of proof such as text messages, calls, and eyewitness accounts that contradicted her account and suggested instead a coordinated criminal act they were both involved in.

In October 2020, Maje was given a prison term of 22 years for the murder of Antonio, with an additional aggravating factor being their kinship. Salvador, on the other hand, received a sentence of 17 years, which was slightly reduced due to his cooperation with the investigation. Both were mandated to pay €250,000 (around $282,437.50 USD) in compensation to Antonio’s family. The jury concluded that both individuals were guilty, emphasizing Maje’s manipulative psychological tactics used towards her lover as a crucial deciding factor.

After the crime

During her imprisonment, Maje found herself pregnant by another inmate. In July 2023, she delivered the child at Alicante’s General Hospital under police supervision. After the birth, she was relocated to the mother-child wing of Fontcalent prison, allowing her to stay with her newborn until the child reaches three years of age.

David, who served time for a 2008 murder, is the child’s father. He and Maje first connected while she was incarcerated at Picassent prison, where their romantic bond formed.

The moniker “Black Widow of Patraix” was bestowed upon Maje because of the kind of crime she’s accused of: it’s said that she deceitfully convinced her lover to kill her husband, setting him up in a meticulously orchestrated ambush. This nickname is reminiscent of the black widow spider, whose female is known for killing the male after mating, symbolizing the chilling and calculated treachery at the core of this case.

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2025-05-30 22:08

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