Catalan police have detained Jonathan Andic as a suspect in the alleged murder of his father, Isak Andic, owner of the Mango fashion empire, who died following a fall on a Montserrat trail on December 14, 2024.
The arrest occurred this morning at Jonathan’s residence after months of speculation that he might be detained or summoned to testify before a judge, according to El Pais.
The Andic family stated that Jonathan was providing testimony “within the framework of the proceedings on the incident of December 14, 2024,” adding that further information could not be disclosed due to the classified nature of the investigation, and that his cooperation with the justice system “has been and will continue to be absolute.”
Catalan police have regarded Jonathan Andic as a suspect in his father’s death since at least October last year. Detecting several inconsistencies in the two statements he made as a witness, investigators requested his mobile phone, which he voluntarily submitted. They have since been examining the device for messages that might offer evidence of a possible motive for the alleged crime.
Isak Andic passed away at 71 during a hike accompanied solely by Jonathan, the eldest of his three sons. The Mango founder fell from a height of over 100 meters.
Initially, Catalan police treated the case as a simple mountain accident. Nonetheless, the investigation shifted direction due to contradictions in Jonathan’s statements. Investigators learned that a few days before the incident, the eldest son had visited the same location. According to his defense, this visit was to prepare for the trip.
The investigation revealed that the father and son had a sometimes tense relationship, especially concerning Jonathan’s role in the company’s management. Isak Andic had decided to hand over the business reins to his eldest son in 2014, with plans to return a year later to form a new team and revive it. This rapid succession did not work out, reportedly straining relations between the two.
Isak Andic was the wealthiest man in Catalonia, with a fortune estimated at 4.5 billion euros, according to Forbes.
Family relations deteriorated following the businessman’s death. His wife and children engaged in a dispute over the inheritance. Andic’s will, signed before a notary in July 2023, stipulated the division of assets among his three children.
He bequeathed his partner five million euros – an amount she deemed insufficient, requesting 70 million. Following difficult negotiations, the children and the partner reached a preliminary agreement for approximately 30 million euros.
Illustrative photo: View from pl. Catalunya, Barcelona.
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