There’s a new true crime documentary on Netflix titled Cooking Up Murder, and it tells the story of chef César Román.
Román was a well-known, renowned chef in the Spanish culinary world, often referred to as the ‘King of Cachopo’, for his popularisation of the Asturian dish cachopo. However, the three-part documentary investigates a dark detail of Román’s past.
Directed by Román Parrado and written by Noemí Redondo and Isabel Paniagua, the docuseries covers Román’s journey to success in Spain’s restaurant industry, and his subsequent downfall following the death of his then-partner, Heydi Paz.
The events of the docuseries take place in the Spanish cities of Madrid and Zaragoza, and span Román’s career, through his downfall and up until the present day.
In April 2018, Román met Heydi Paz, who was working at one of his restaurants. The two had a brief relationship, and by June they had split up. However, when she went missing in July, things took a dark turn. On August 13, 2018, Paz’ dismembered body parts were found in an unzipped suitcase in an abandoned warehouse in Madrid.
Román had already fled to Zaragoza where he was working under a pseudonym, but after a three-month manhunt, with one of his co-workers matching him with a news report, he was found and arrested. Spanish police had found that Román had taken a taxi on August 5, 2018 to the warehouse where Paz’ remains were found.
Román was charged with murder, and despite pleading not guilty, was convicted in June 2021.
Where is César Román now?
Román is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence at the Soto del Real Penitentiary Centre in Madrid.
Despite attempting to appeal his conviction and maintaining his innocence, he wrote a letter in April this year confessing to his crime, as per People Magazine. In the letter, he wrote about how he “cannot turn back time” and wanted to “repair the damage” and “make clear his regret” (via People).
His attorney, however, maintains that Román is not guilty and claimed that he wrote the letter in a time of “desperation”.
The three-part documentary is available to watch now on Netflix.