One of Spain’s most prolific serial killers is now being held in a women’s correctional unit after beginning to identify as transgender while behind bars. Joan Vila Dilmé, also known as the Olot nursing home killer, is reportedly now going by the name “Aida.”
Vila, 60, was sentenced to 127 years in prison in 2013 for the murders of 11 elderly residents at the care home he worked at.
Dubbed “the angel of death” by Spanish media, Vila was arrested following the death of an 85-year-old resident at the La Caritat nursing home in the northeastern Catalan town of Olot. Medical staff determined that the woman had died after ingesting a corrosive substance, prompting authorities to classify the case as suspicious.
Police soon identified Vila, a caregiver at the facility, as a person of interest after establishing that he had been present at the time of the woman’s death. During questioning, he confessed to the killing, admitting that he had forced her to drink a corrosive substance.
Although Vila initially confessed to just three murders, a subsequent investigation revealed a far more extensive pattern of abuse. Authorities ultimately linked him to at least 11 deaths at the nursing home—nine women and two men. The victims, all of whom were between 80 and 90 years of age, were identified as:
- Rosa Barbures Pujol
- Francisca Matilde Fiol
- Teresa Puig Boixadera
- Isidra García Aseijas
- Carme Vilanova Viñolas
- Lluís Salleras Claret
- Joan Canal Julià
- Montserrat Canalias Muntada
- Sabina Masllorens i Sala
- Montserrat Guillamet Bartolich
- Paquita Gironès i Quintana
The murders were carried out between August of 2009 and October of 2010.
Investigators determined that Vila had evaded detection for an extended period by initially employing methods that were difficult to trace. In early cases, he administered cocktails of barbiturates and other drugs mixed with water, or delivered high doses of insulin intravenously to diabetic patients. These methods often led to the deaths being mistakenly classified as natural or medical.
By September of 2010, colleagues began noticing a marked shift in Vila behavior. He reportedly became increasingly aggressive and expressed frustration with caring for elderly residents, stating that he wanted to leave his job. Following one of his later killings, he allegedly compelled a co-worker to remain in the victim’s room and watch over the body.
The final series of murders occurred within a five-day span between October 12 and 17, 2010. During this period, Vila killed Sabina Masllorens i Sala, Montserrat Guillamet Bartolich and Paquita Gironès i Quintana. In these cases, he abandoned earlier methods and instead forced victims to ingest bleach or injected corrosive substances directly into their mouths.
These substances, including sodium hypochlorite, caused severe internal injuries, burning the esophagus, mucous membranes and lungs, and resulting in extreme pain.
His last victim, Paquita Gironès i Quintana, was a widow suffering from episodes of dementia. She had been living at La Caritat for several years and had developed a hostile relationship with Vila. In the weeks leading up to her death, she reportedly attempted to alert staff and family members to alleged abuse, claiming he had slapped her. Her complaints, however, were ignored.
Investigators reviewing CCTV footage later determined that Vila had moved Gironès i Quintana in a wheelchair to a ward without video surveillance. She was subsequently found with injuries to her face and breasts. On the evening of October 17, Vila, who admitted he had been drinking wine while on duty, checked on her after hearing her cough. Observing that she was disoriented and struggling to breathe, he retrieved a syringe, filled it with laundry detergent, and forced it into her throat. Despite being transported to the emergency room, she died from her injuries.
Vila was ultimately convicted and sentenced to 127 years in prison. However, under Spanish law, the effective maximum time served is capped at 40 years, meaning he could be eligible for release in 2053 if he remains alive.
Serving his sentence at Puig de les Basses prison in Figueres since his arrest in 2010, the killer has now adopted a new female name, with competing outlets claiming he is going by either “Aida” or “Aura.”
During their report, the mainstream Spanish paper referred to Vila in the feminine, and attempted to minimize any allegations that this was done in order to gain any special treatment, arguing “her transition does not entail any benefits related to her sentence.”
They further note that Vila had allegedly said he felt like “a woman trapped in a man’s body” back during the initial investigation and trial.
As of now, he has yet to undergo any surgical alterations, but reportedly has plans to do so. His “gender-affirming” cosmetic surgeries will be paid for by Spain’s public healthcare system.
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