Mango Founder’s Son Detained in Homicide Probe Over Father’s Cliff Death
Catalan police detained Jonathan Andic, the son of Mango fashion group founder Isak Andic, on Tuesday in connection with an investigation into his father’s death, according to the Mossos d’Esquadra police force. Jonathan Andic was the only witness present when his 71-year-old father fell to his death in the Montserrat mountains near Barcelona on December 14, 2024. He was taken to court facilities in Martorell, in eastern Spain, where the case is being investigated. U.S. News & World Report + 2
Investigators initially treated the death as an accident, with early findings suggesting Isak Andic may have slipped. A judge closed the case in January 2025 after finding no evidence of criminal wrongdoing. The investigation has since undergone a significant shift in direction. RTÉ
Investigators with the Mossos d’Esquadra, along with prosecutors and the court, reopened the case in October 2025 after citing inconsistencies in Jonathan Andic’s testimony. Police analysed his mobile phone data, including his movements on the day of his father’s death and prior communications between the two. Officers also reviewed claims of a strained relationship between father and son. RTÉEuro Weekly News
A further development emerged when investigators found that Jonathan Andic changed his mobile phone shortly after his father’s death, a detail the presiding judge of Investigative Court No. 5 of Martorell considered suspicious. ara
A family spokesperson confirmed Jonathan Andic was being questioned but said proceedings were subject to judicial secrecy. “The cooperation has been and will remain total,” the spokesperson said, adding that Jonathan Andic’s family remained confident of his innocence. CBS News
The case is subject to a nondisclosure order, a spokesperson for the Mossos d’Esquadra said, speaking on condition of anonymity in accordance with department policy. Mango declined to comment on the detention, according to Reuters. CBS News
Jonathan Andic, 45, is the eldest of Isak Andic’s three children and one of his father’s heirs. He serves as vice-chairman of the board at Mango, one of Spain’s largest retailers. He began his career at the company in 2005 after studying audiovisual communication in the United States and business administration in Spain, later managing the Mango Man line before joining the board. CBS NewsRTÉ
Isak Andic died after falling approximately 150 metres during a hike with his eldest son to visit the Salnitre Caves in Collbató, Barcelona, on a route through the Montserrat massif described as relatively easy terrain. Authorities said at the time that he fell from a height near the Salnitre caves in Collbató, an area marked by steep drops and ravines. FashionNetworkNBC10 Philadelphia
After the judge provisionally closed the case in January 2025, it was reopened two months later to incorporate additional police reports, including statements from family members and associates of both the victim and Jonathan Andic, who were questioned as witnesses by the investigating magistrate. FashionNetwork
The detention has drawn attention to the leadership of one of Europe’s most recognised fashion brands. Mango’s revenue reached a record high of nearly 3.8 billion euros ($4.4 billion) in 2025, an 11 percent increase from the prior year, and the company operates 2,900 stores across 120 markets worldwide. CBS News
Isak Andic was born in Istanbul and moved to Catalonia in the 1960s, founding Mango in Barcelona in 1984. He built it into a global group widely regarded as a rival to Zara. At the time of his death, he served as non-executive chairman of Mango with a net worth of $4.5 billion, according to Forbes. Global Banking and Finance
Jonathan Andic has consistently denied any responsibility for his father’s death. He has maintained that the fall was accidental. The family spokesperson reiterated on Tuesday that cooperation with authorities had been and would continue to be complete, while noting they had no further information on proceedings due to the judicial secrecy order in place. RTÉ
What Happens Next
Jonathan Andic was brought to court facilities in Martorell, where he is expected to testify before the investigating judge handling the case. The case remains subject to a nondisclosure order. The investigation continues under the authority of Investigative Court No. 5 of Martorell. The Mossos d’Esquadra has not announced any further planned detentions, and Mango has not indicated any change to its corporate governance structure in connection with the proceedings. NBC10 Philadelphia + 2
