Dolores: The Truth About the Wanninkhof Case

1999, Mijas, Málaga, Spain. When 19-year-old Rocío Wanninkhof goes missing, the civil guard determines that the victim must have known her assailant. After her body is found, authorities narrow in on someone close to Rocío’s mother Alicia: Dolores Vázquez.

Targeted as the sole suspect in a stalling investigation despite a lack of physical evidence, Dolores is arrested for Rocío’s murder. With public opinion increasingly turned against her after the media publicizes her years-long romance with Alicia, Dolores’ mental state begins to deteriorate behind bars.

As Dolores’ trial approaches, Alicia stokes a media frenzy with her television appearances, raising concerns about a biased jury. While the prosecution presents a case built on conjecture, a handful of questionable witnesses support their allegations.

After a whirlwind trial, Dolores is sentenced to fifteen years in prison – but six months later, the Supreme Court of Spain overturns the verdict and sets Dolores free. Then, as Dolores awaits a retrial, another young woman, Sonia Carabantes, is abducted and murdered on the Costa del Sol.

As similarities are drawn between Sonia and Rocío’s cases, Tony King – an Englishman with a record of violence against woman – is arrested and linked to both murders. Despite DNA evidence that places King at both crime scenes, Alicia and the authorities continue to implicate Dolores.

As Tony King stands trial for the murders of Rocío Wanninkhof and Sonia Carabantes, Dolores – declared innocent and free of pending charges – takes steps to clear her name. More than 20 years after Rocío’s murder, Dolores and Alicia struggle to move on from their trauma.