The Civil Guard is investigating the death of a 77-year-old man whose body has been located at his home in the small Valencian town of Sempere.

The Valencia Civil Guard Homicide Team has taken over the investigation after the old man was found dead on Wednesday. A court in Ontinyent has decreed the summary secrecy, sources familiar with the case have confirmed to Europa Press.

For her part, the mayoress of the town, María Dolores Ortolá, has expressed the “shock” and “fear” felt by the residents of the town, with less than thirty inhabitants, and usually “very quiet.”

The first mayor has indicated that the deceased, “a simple man”, was a person known in the municipality and lived alone in one of the houses. It so happens that he had previously reported a couple of thefts on his property, he has stated in statements to Europa Press.

Ortolá has commented that they discovered the body after a day center worker from a nearby town noticed that the garage door of this neighbor’s house was kept open throughout the day. When, surprised, he went to the home, he discovered the body and that the interior of the house was “upside down”, as described by the mayoress, who quickly went to the house when she was notified.

The neighbors will observe a minute of silence during the Holy Week religious services that are celebrated today and tomorrow Saturday in the town.