US teacher Bianca Pitman strangled, autopsy reveals, as husband arrested in Spain for reckless homicide after claiming she died accidentally during ‘extreme sex’
AN AMERICAN woman who is reported to have died after ‘extreme sex’ with her husband suffocated, it emerged today.
Jose Betancourt, 50, claims Bianca Pitman’s death was an accident that happened while the pair were playing a hardcore game that simulated a rape.
But the construction manager, who is also an American, has been remanded in custody, and an investigating judge specializing in gender violence has taken over the case, which has now been upgraded from a manslaughter to a homicide investigation.
Art teacher mother-of-two Bianca, 43, reportedly left the couple’s home in San Antonio, Texas, in November to move away from her partner.
She is said to have started a new life in the town of Xativa near Valencia on the Costa Blanca.
The couple had been living together in a tourist apartment in Malaga on the Costa del Sol, where Bianca’s body was found in the early hours of Saturday morning after Betancourt left for Spain on a few days’ holiday.
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 on Monday that he should be held without bail
Pitman’s body was found in an apartment in Malaga, Spain, where police initially believed “extreme sex” had led to her death
He is said to have left the flat to call for help around 5.30am on April 6 after his partner became unconscious and unresponsive.
He told first responders they had been drinking alcohol, including shots, in the hours leading up to Pitman’s death and claimed she had also taken drugs before they began taking part in an ‘extreme sex’ game.
Although the death was initially treated as homicide, it was upgraded to homicide and Betancourt was sent to Alhaurin de la Torre prison near Malaga following a court appearance after the autopsy showed the victim had been strangled.
The investigating judge is now trying to determine whether Bianca accidentally suffocated during the sex play her partner claims they engaged in, or whether he invented the extreme role-play as a cover-up.
A friend of the dead woman has now launched one GoFundMe appeal to support his family.
Organizer Grace Teeters said in the appeal: ‘It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we share the devastating news of the loss of Bianca Pitman, 43, a beloved mother, dedicated teacher, animal lover and passionate traveler and artist.
‘Bianca’s life was tragically cut short on 6 April 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 who knew her.
‘Bianca was not just a teacher, she was a beacon of light in her community and she inspired countless students with her enthusiasm and love of art.
‘Her spirit of wanderlust was contagious and she was always looking to share her adventures and stories with those around her, especially on Snapchat.
Pitman shown with his family on a GoFundMe page that has been set up
Pitman was working at San Antonio’s MacArthur High School as an art teacher, where she gave a Q&A interview to her online newspaper when she came to
‘She loved spending quality time with her loved ones and she loved trying new things.
“However, the unimaginable has happened.
‘Bianca is survived by daughter Promise, 22, and son Gavin, 20, as well as their older brother Graham, 25, who all now face the daunting task of navigating life without their beloved mother.
“To add to the complexity of this heartbreaking situation, their father is currently in Spain facing charges in connection with her passing.
‘The circumstances surrounding this destruction are still under investigation. With both parents suddenly absent from their lives, the family is left in dire need of support during this turbulent time.
‘As we gather to honor Bianca’s memory, we humbly ask for your help.
‘The costs associated with memorializing Bianca, including the cost of cremation and transporting her remains and personal effects home, travel costs, legal fees and countless contingencies, are significant and overwhelming for her grieving family.’
‘Our goal is to ease some of the financial burden on Bianca’s loved ones, especially her young adult children, two of whom are college students, as they navigate this loss.
‘Your generosity will allow Bianca’s family to focus on their grief and serve as a testament to the charity and love that 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 with your loved ones and everyone else who knew her. Your kindness, compassion and generosity will serve as a beacon of hope in this dark time.’
Bianca had written at the end of March, showing that she was in Valencia, Spain
Speaking warmly of her family, Pitman said: I like spending time with my children, watching movies, reading books and playing with animals… ‘I really like helping my daughter with her speech and debates. I always love making art, that’s a given’
The dead woman’s friend Valerie Dullnig said earlier this week of Bianca’s decision to leave her husband in the US: ‘I was with her the day she left. She couldn’t share it with many people.’
She told DailyMail.com, claiming Jose was ‘blindsided’ by the decision: ”She and Jose weren’t married, but when they were together for so long, they had a common-law marriage.
‘I had been in contact with her. She had to get a new phone, which 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 had been living with her husband in a luxury apartment complex in the heart of Malaga’s old town called The Clock House.
Friends have said they were unaware she had arranged to meet Betancourt in Malaga.
An official said on Monday: ‘Malaga’s investigative court number 9, which acts as a duty court, has this afternoon decided on custody or the man arrested due to the death of his common-law wife.
“He is an American citizen who is, in principle, being investigated on suspicion of a charge of murder.
‘The violence court will refer the case to a court specializing in violence against women, which is the court that will now take over this investigation.’
Betancourt is now officially an ‘investigado’ under Spanish law, which literally means he is a person under investigation.
Formal charges have only been brought in Spain shortly before the trial.
The ongoing criminal case will be conducted in private and is expected to last several months, although it could last for years.
Only trials in Spain take place in public. Remand prisoners can be kept behind bars for up to four years in the most extreme cases, although the normal term is two years, and most are released on bail before the two years are up, although they usually have to accept strict conditional release conditions, which include a travel ban and regular court registration.