The son of Mango founder Isak Andic was allegedly instructed by a family therapist to orchestrate a confrontation with his father at the cliffside location where the billionaire later died, according to a British translator. The translator told investigators that she was directed by therapist Maria Julia Luderwaldt to select a hiking trail near where Isak Andic, 71, plunged to his death in late 2024.
Jonathan Andic, 45, was with his father when he fell approximately 500 feet near the Catalan city. Police reopened an investigation into the death in October, treating it as a possible homicide. Jonathan Andic has maintained his innocence, asserting his father's death was an accident. He was arrested in May on suspicion of homicide and later released on one million euros bail.
The British translator, who reportedly worked with Luderwaldt, stated that the therapist's intention was to create an extreme situation for the father and son, aiming to help Jonathan Andic break free from perceived emotional ties. The translator claims she was told to facilitate this by having Jonathan Andic "standing on the edge of a cliff" with his father.
Police have reportedly questioned the translator, who is said to have provided messages exchanged with the therapist. According to reports, Luderwaldt responded to the translator's inquiry about the incident with, "Maybe it's better if I don't know, just in case I'm the next one."
The translator has given two statements to the police, detailing her alleged involvement and the therapist's instructions. She was reportedly shown photographs of the Feixades Path in the Montserrat Mountains, where the incident occurred, but could not identify the exact spot. She is expected to testify before a judge.
Maria Julia Luderwaldt appeared in court in June to be questioned by the judge overseeing the homicide investigation into Jonathan Andic. Reports suggest Luderwaldt had previously advocated for Isak Andic to provide his son with financial support for independent ventures, enabling him to step out from his father's influence.
Isak Andic's girlfriend, Estefania Knuth, and other individuals also provided testimony. The investigating judge's document outlining reasons for making Jonathan Andic a suspect cited a strained relationship between father and son, Jonathan's alleged 'obsession' with money, and police findings that the marks at the scene did not align with a simple slip. Jonathan Andic's defense team disputes these findings and has presented a video of his father falling prior to his death, attributing it to a degenerative knee condition.
Jonathan Andic, who stepped down as Mango's vice-president following his arrest, has described the accusations as unfounded. A text message from Jonathan to his father in July 2024, stating, "I'm not surprised you thought I was even capable of killing you," has surfaced, which his defense claims was taken out of context from family therapy discussions.
Isak Andic co-founded Mango with his brother Nahman in 1984. By March 2024, the company operated over 2,700 stores in more than 110 countries. Forbes estimated Isak Andic's net worth at $4.5 billion prior to his death, making him one of Spain's wealthiest individuals. He was known for his discreet lifestyle and had amassed considerable wealth, including a private jet and a large yacht.