Summary:
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A Widows Game is based on the real 2017 murder of Antonio Navarro in Valencia, Spain.
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His wife, María Jesús “Maje” Moreno, was found guilty of orchestrating the murder with her lover.
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The Netflix film dramatizes the events leading up to and following the killing.
Netflix’s A Widow’s Game retells a shocking real-life crime that unfolded in Spain in 2017. At the center of the case was María Jesús “Maje” Moreno, a seemingly grieving widow whose public image unraveled when investigators revealed her involvement in her husband’s murder. The case drew national attention and is now adapted into a gripping Spanish-language thriller streaming from May 30.
What Is the True Story Behind A Widows Game on Netflix?
The real-life crime that inspired A Widow’s Game began on August 16, 2017, when 36-year-old Antonio Navarro Cerdán, an industrial engineer, was murdered in the garage of his residential building in Valencia, Spain. He was stabbed in the chest by an assailant who had been lying in wait.
His wife, María Jesús Moreno Cantó, known as Maje, was initially seen as a devastated widow. Working as a nurse in a Valencia hospital, she publicly mourned her husband’s death and cooperated with police inquiries. However, investigators noticed discrepancies between her calm demeanor and her situation.
Police soon ruled out robbery as a motive, and attention turned to Maje’s private life. Surveillance, interviews, and wiretaps revealed she had been involved in multiple extramarital affairs. One of her lovers, Salvador Rodrigo Lapiedra, a janitor at her hospital, became the key suspect. Maje had convinced Salvador that she was a victim of abuse and promised they would be together if her husband were out of the way.
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How Was Antonio Navarro Murdered and Who Was Responsible?
The killing was meticulously premeditated. Maje provided Salvador with the garage keys and information on Antonio’s morning routine. On the day of the murder, Salvador hid in the garage and attacked Antonio as he approached his car.
Salvador used a kitchen knife, later found on his property months later after he confessed. He initially claimed sole responsibility, attempting to shield Maje. However, he changed his statement after discovering that Maje had started a relationship with another inmate while awaiting trial.
Salvador admitted that the murder had been planned jointly. He told the court that Maje didn’t want to go through a divorce as it would leave her without inheritance rights or a widow’s pension. The murder, therefore, was not a crime of passion but a calculated decision, executed with Maje’s active support and manipulation.
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What Happened After the Arrests and During the Trial?
Both Maje and Salvador were arrested in January 2018. Evidence including phone conversations, text messages, and testimonies clearly indicated the crime was coordinated. Maje continued to deny involvement, portraying herself as an innocent bystander manipulated by her lover.
Despite her defense, the court found overwhelming evidence of her role. In October 2020, she was sentenced to 22 years in prison for murder with kinship as an aggravating factor. Salvador received a 17-year sentence, slightly reduced due to his cooperation during the investigation. The pair were also ordered to pay €250,000 to Antonio’s family as compensation.
What Happened to Maje After the Conviction?
Maje’s case did not end with the conviction. While in custody at Picassent Prison, she developed a relationship with another inmate, David, who had been convicted of murder in 2008. In July 2023, Maje gave birth to a baby while under police supervision at the General Hospital of Alicante.
She was later transferred to Fontcalent Prison, specifically the mother-child unit, where she can stay with the child until they turn three years old.
Due to the manipulative nature of the crime, Maje was widely referred to as the “Black Widow of Patraix”, referencing both the location of the crime and the behavior associated with the predatory spider. The nickname symbolized how she used seduction and psychological control to engineer her husband’s death.
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When and Where Is A Widows Game Streaming?
A Widow’s Game (La Viuda Negra) premiered on Netflix on May 30, 2025. The Spanish-language thriller dramatizes the events surrounding the murder of Antonio Navarro and the subsequent investigation and trial.
The series features actor Tristán Ulloa as Salvador “Salva”, highlighting his emotional and moral descent, and the manipulation he endured. The film ends with a real courtroom recording, in which Salvador finally confesses that Maje was a willing co-conspirator from the beginning.
Why Was the Story of Maje and Antonio Chosen for Adaptation?
The true crime story gained widespread attention in Spain due to its shocking betrayal, psychological manipulation, and media spectacle surrounding the trial. The contradictions in Maje’s public and private personas created a compelling narrative of deception.
The Netflix adaptation, while dramatized, closely follows real case developments, trial records, and media coverage. The inclusion of real recordings and evidence adds authenticity to the show, bridging fiction and documentary storytelling.
Source: Time
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