DNA Testing to Identify 108 Civil War Victims Executed in Colmenar Viejo 86 Years Later

Benita Navacerrada, aged 93, recalls the heart-wrenching moment when her father, Facundo Navacerrada, was abducted and executed by Francoist forces during the Spanish Civil War. Facundo was among 108 individuals—107 men and one woman—executed in Colmenar Viejo between April and November 1939. To date, only two of these victims have been identified following recent exhumations.

The Spanish government has allocated €114,889 to conduct genetic analyses on the remains, which are held at Complutense University. A local Commission of Truth has collected approximately fifty DNA samples from descendants to facilitate identification efforts. However, decades spent in a mass grave have left the remains in challenging condition, complicating the process.

Families, like Esther Mateo’s—granddaughter of another victim, Manuel Mateo—express the emotional toll endured due to years of uncertainty. For them, identifying the remains means finally obtaining closure and being able to provide dignified burials.

This initiative highlights ongoing efforts within Spain to recover historical memory and address the legacies of Francoist repression, which for generations have been marked by fear and silence. The identification of these victims is a poignant step towards reconciling with the past and honoring those lost during the Civil War.