AN AMERICAN woman is believed to have died after “extreme sex” with her common-law partner led to her being strangled, it was revealed today.
José Betancourt, 50, claims Bianca Pitman’s death was an accident that occurred while the couple was playing a hardcore game simulating rape.
But the construction boss, also American, was placed in pre-trial detention and an investigating judge specializing in gender-based violence took charge of the case, which had been moved from involuntary homicide to an investigation for homicide.
Bianca, 43, an art teacher and mother of two, reportedly left the couple’s home in San Antonio, Texas, in November to get away from her partner.
She is said to have started a new life in the town of Xàtiva, near Valencia, on the Costa Blanca.
The couple were staying together in a tourist apartment in Malaga, on the Costa del Sol, where Bianca’s body was found early Saturday morning after Betancourt traveled to Spain for a few days’ vacation.
Bianca Pitman, 43, secretly disappeared from her home in San Antonio, Texas, in November, allegedly to escape her husband Jose Betancourt, DailyMail.com revealed earlier this week.
Betancourt, 50, is languishing in prison in Spain after a judge ruled Monday that he should be held without bail
Pitman’s body was found in an apartment in Malaga, Spain, with police initially believing “extreme sexual relations” had led to his death.
He reportedly left the apartment to seek help around 5:30 a.m. on April 6 after his partner lost consciousness and became unresponsive.
He told first responders they drank alcohol, including shots, in the hours before Pitman’s death and claimed she also used drugs before she began engaging in in an “extreme sexual” game.
Although the death was initially treated as manslaughter, it was classified as homicide and Betancourt was sent to Alhaurin de la Torre prison, near Malaga, after appearing in court after the autopsy showed that the victim had been strangled.
The investigating judge is now trying to establish whether Bianca was accidentally strangled during the sexual game in which her partner pretended to engage, or whether he invented this extreme role play to conceal his situation.
A friend of the deceased woman has launched a GoFundMe appeal to support her family.
Organizer Grace Teeters said in the call: “With heavy hearts and deep sadness, we share the devastating news of the loss of Bianca Pitman, 43, a beloved mother, dedicated teacher, lover of animals and a passionate traveler and artist.
“Bianca’s life was tragically cut short on April 6, 2024 in Spain, where she had been teaching English since November.
“Her unexpected passing has left an unimaginable void not only in the lives of her family but also in the hearts of all those who knew her.
“Bianca was not just a teacher, she was a beacon of light in her community, inspiring countless students with her enthusiasm and love of art.
“Her spirit of travel was contagious and she was always looking to share her adventures and stories with those around her, especially on Snapchat.
Pitman featured with her family on a GoFundMe page that was created
Pitman worked at MacArthur High School in San Antonio as an art teacher where she gave a question-and-answer interview to the online newspaper when she joined
“She loved spending quality time with her loved ones and she loved trying new things.
“However, the unimaginable happened.
“Bianca leaves behind her daughter Promise, 22, and son Gavin, 20, as well as their older brother Graham, 25, who are now all facing the daunting task of living without their beloved mother.
“To add to the complexity of this heartbreaking situation, their father is currently in Spain and facing charges related to his death.
“The circumstances surrounding this devastation remain under investigation. With both parents suddenly absent from their lives, the family is in dire need of support during this turbulent time.
“As we come together to honor Bianca’s memory, we humbly ask for your help.
“The costs associated with memorializing Bianca, including cremation and transportation costs for her remains and personal effects, travel expenses, legal fees, and countless unforeseen costs, are significant and overwhelming to her family in mourning.”
“Our goal is to alleviate some of the financial burden that is weighing heavily on Bianca’s loved ones, especially her young adult children, two of whom are students, as they navigate this loss.
“Your generosity will allow Bianca’s family to focus on their grief and will be a testament to the charity and love Bianca inspired in others.
“Please consider donating if you can, as any amount really helps.” You can also help Bianca’s family through this difficult time by sharing this message with your loved ones and anyone else who knew her. Your kindness, compassion and generosity will serve as a beacon of hope in this time of darkness.
Bianca had posted at the end of March showing that she was in Valencia, Spain
Pitman spoke warmly of his family, saying: I enjoy spending time with my children, going to movies, reading books, and playing with animals… “I really enjoy helping my daughter with her speech and debate. I still love making art, that’s obvious’
The deceased’s friend, Valerie Dullnig, said earlier this week of Bianca’s decision to leave her husband in the United States: “I was with her the day she left. She couldn’t share him with a lot of people.
She told DailyMail.com, claiming Jose had been “blindsided” by the decision: “She and Jose weren’t married, but because they had been together for so long, they had a common-law marriage.
“I had been in contact with her. She had to get a new phone that she didn’t share with many people.
She added: “I don’t know how Jose found out where she was or why they met. But he has a lot of manipulative tactics.
Bianca lived with her common-law husband in a luxury apartment complex in the heart of Malaga’s old town called The Clock House.
Friends said they did not know she had agreed to meet Betancourt in Malaga.
A court official said on Monday: “Málaga Court of Inquiry Number Nine, acting as a duty court, this afternoon decreed the provisional detention of the man arrested for the death of his common-law wife.
“He is an American citizen who is allegedly under investigation on suspicion of homicide.
“The duty court will refer the case to a court specializing in violence against women, which will now be responsible for this investigation.”
Betancourt is now officially an “investigado” under Spanish law, which literally means he is a person under investigation.
In Spain, formal charges are only filed shortly before trial.
The ongoing criminal investigation will be conducted behind closed doors and is expected to last several months, although it could last years.
Only trials in Spain take place in public. Defendants can be held behind bars for up to four years in the most extreme cases, although the normal time limit is two years and most are released on bail before the two years expire, even if they must normally agree to strict parole conditions which include a travel ban and regular court registration.
dailymail us
