DANIEL Sancho Bronchalo is the son of Spanish movie stars who used to create cookery content on YouTube.
He murdered his boyfriend before dismembering him and discarding the remains at locations including a rubbish dump — here’s what we know about where he is now.
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Who is Daniel Sancho Bronchalo?
Daniel Sancho Bronchalo is a 30-year-old Spanish YouTube chef.
He is the son of famous Spanish actors Rodolfo Sancho Aguirre and Silvia Bronchalo.
Daniel Sancho Bronchalo gained international notoriety in 2023 for his involvement in a gruesome murder case in Thailand.
The crime
In July and August 2023, Bronchalo was vacationing on the Thai island of Koh Pha-ngan when he met with Edwin Arrieta Arteaga, a 44-year-old Colombian plastic surgeon.
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The two reportedly connected via Instagram a year earlier and had become romantically involved.
Bronchalo is understood to have been quarrelling with Arteaga while they were in the resort to attend one of the notorious Full Moon Parties.
On August 2, 2023, Bronchalo allegedly murdered Arrieta in a hotel room on the island, dismembered his body and disposed of the parts in various locations around the island, both on land and at sea.
The crime came to light when the victim’s remains — including his hips and thighs — were found by locals in Koh Pha Ngnan at a rubbish dump on August 3, 2023.
Trial and verdict
Bronchalo was charged with premeditated murder, concealing a body and destroying documents.
During his trial on the neighbouring island of Koh Samui, Bronchalo claimed that Arrieta had died accidentally during a fight after attempting to sexually assault him.
But prosecutors presented evidence that Bronchalo had purchased items including knives, rubber gloves and cleaning supplies before the murder, suggesting premeditation.
On August 29, 2024, the Koh Samui Provincial Court found Bronchalo guilty of premeditated murder.
I am sorry that a life has been lost and that parents have lost a son
Daniel Sancho Bronchalo
He was initially sentenced to death, but the court reduced the sentence to life imprisonment due to his cooperation during the trial.
Motive
The motive remains contentious, with conflicting accounts from various sources.
Thai police claim Bronchalo killed Arrieta because he wanted to end their relationship, and that Bronchalo also confessed to planning the murder.
Deputy police chief Surachate Hakparn stated: “Daniel has confessed that he killed Edwin because he wanted to break up and Edwin didn’t want that.”
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However, Bronchalo and his legal team deny this version of events, maintaining that the YouTube chef acted in self-defence.
They contend Arrieta allegedly attempted to sexually assault Bronchalo, which led to a fight where Arrieta accidentally fell and hit his head.
Public interest and family reaction
The case received significant media attention, particularly in Spain, due to Bronchalo’s family background.
His father Rodolfo Sancho Bronchalo is a well-known actor in Spain, having starred in popular television series El Ministerio del Tiempo (The Ministry of Time).
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Bronchalo’s defence team expressed surprise at the life sentence, with his lawyer, Carmen Balfagon, saying: “We didn’t expect it [the life sentence], but we must accept what Thai justice has said, we have to respect it.”
In his closing statement Bronchalo told the court: “I am sorry that a life has been lost and that parents have lost a son.”
Where he is now
As of October 2024, Daniel Sancho Bronchalo is serving a life sentence in a Thai prison.
He is currently incarcerated in Surat Thani prison, where he was transferred a few hours after being sentenced to life imprisonment.
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He had spent the previous twelve months in provisional detention at Koh Samui prison.
Surat Thani prison is located in the south of Thailand on the Malawa peninsula.
In addition to the life sentence, he was ordered to pay approximately 160,000 Canadian dollars (£89,230 or 4.4 million Thai baht) in compensation to Arrieta’s family.
Under certain conditions, Bronchalo may be eligible to request repatriation to serve the remainder of his sentence in Spain after several years in Thai prison, as per an agreement reached between Thailand and Spain.
However, this process is not immediate or guaranteed.
