Francisco Leona Romero


Francisco Leona was a Spanish child killer, barber, curandero, and Sacamantecas from the region of Gádor, Almería, who was arrested and convicted of murdering seven-year-old Bernardo Gonzalez Parra for the purpose of using the boy's blood and fat as a tuberculosis treatment for a wealthy farmer, Francisco Ortega.

Crime

Francisco Ortega, diagnosed with phthisis pulmonalis, wanted to look for a cure, and he was supported by Agustina Rodríguez, who suggested to consult Francisco Leona. Leona suggested the ingestion of the human blood and mantecas.
While Julio Hernández el Tonto distracted him, Leona covered the mouth of Bernardo Gonzalez Parra with a handkerchief bathed on chloroform. After that both of them introduced Bernardo to a gunny sack to move him to a cortijo. Leona lay down Bernardo on a table, and held by the others, he stabbed him in the armpit while Agustina Rodríguez picked up the blood with a cooking pot and gave to Francisco Ortega.
The cost of the operation was 3000 pesetas, but Leona didn't share it out equally so Julio Hernández resorted to authorities and declared the crime.
He was sentenced to garrote vil but he died from poisoning in prison.

Aftermath

The crime of Gádor gave rise to the term Hombre del saco and Sacamantecas because the kidnappers, Francisco Leona and Julio el Tonto Hernández, used a gunny sack to carry with the children.