Garayo's first victim was a well known woman from Vitoria that had turned to prostitution while her husband was in jail, and he hired in the afternoon of April 2, 1870.
The two walked out of the city through the Portal del Rey, took the road to Navarre, and stopped by the Recachiqui (Errekatxiki) stream to have sex.
Once done Garayo offered her three Spanish reales and she protested for finding it too short.
Garayo offered one more real but she demanded five.
At this point Garayo threw her to the ground and oppressed her throat with both hands until she became unconscious.
He then took his victim to the stream and submerged her head in the water until she drowned.
Garayo then undressed the body and placed it face up on the ground.
He sat next to the body for a while before covering it with the clothes and returned to the city during the night.
The murder was discovered the next morning by a servant that was picking flowers by the bankside and alerted the authorities, but the case was archived for lack of evidence shortly after.

The second murder was committed on March 12, 1871 also during the afternoon.
Garayo met a poor widow begging in Portal del Rey and offered her to come with him.
After she said that she had not eaten that day, Garayo gave her one real and told her to not get late, saying that he would be waiting for her in the road to Navarre.
The woman bought bread and a glass of wine in an inn and the two walked the road to a place known as Labizcarra, 400 meters from the Recachiqui, where they had sex.
Once again, Garayo offered a short sum, the woman protested and he brought her down and strangled her with his hands, returning home at night.
The body was discovered the next day but once again the investigators found no lead to the culprit.

The third occurred on August 21, 1872.
This time the murder was at noon and the victim wasn't a prostitute.
Garayo was traveling to Gamarra Mayor when he met a 13-year-old servant girl walking on the opposite direction, who had been sent on an errand to Vitoria by her employers.
Garayo seized her and hauled her off the road, oppressing her throat until she became unconscious, and raped her.
He strangled her again until she died and hid the body in a ditch, returning to Vitoria by 2 PM.
The discovery of the murder the next day caused a great commotion in Vitoria and its region.
However, the doubled efforts of the investigators met again with a lack of leads, and even worse, with news of another murder only 8 days later, on August 29.

At dusk, Garayo approached a 23-year-old woman not far from his own home, that he knew to be lewd, and offered her money for sex.
The two left this time by the Portal de Barreras and advanced through the road to La Rioja, Garayo walking a distance behind her to prevent people from seeing them together.
They reunited after a while and had sex next to a bridge.
Garayo offered her two reales and after she protested, three and then four.
She kept demanding more and he brought her down and strangled her until he though she was dead.
The victim, however, made a slight movement.
Garayo then took her hairpin, straightened it, and stabbed her in the heart while holding her body under his knees.
He placed the body next to the river and went back home during the night.
The police investigated a soldier destined to Vitoria (the Third Carlist War had just broken out), but he was found innocent and cleared of suspicion.
The panic among the population increased, with many women refusing to go outside alone and villages becoming deserted at night.

In August 1873, again during an afternoon, Garayo took another prostitute to the Recachiqui.
Again he offered few money, she protested and he attempted to strangle her, but the woman could scream and alert some guards from Polvorín Viejo - the prison where Garayo would be executed in later - forcing him to flee.

In June 1874, Garayo happened upon an old, sickly beggar woman on the road of La Zumaquera.
Without saying a word, Garayo attempted to strangle her, but she screamed and defended herself until two other women ar
Garayo's first victim was a well known woman from Vitoria that had turned to prostitution while her husband was in jail, and he hired in the afternoon of April 2, 1870. The two walked out of the city through the Portal del Rey, took the road to Navarre, and stopped by the Recachiqui (Errekatxiki) stream to have sex. Once done Garayo offered her three Spanish reales and she protested for finding it too short. Garayo offered one more real but she demanded five. At this point Garayo threw her to the ground and oppressed her throat with both hands until she became unconscious. He then took his victim to the stream and submerged her head in the water until she drowned. Garayo then undressed the body and placed it face up on the ground. He sat next to the body for a while before covering it with the clothes and returned to the city during the night. The murder was discovered the next morning by a servant that was picking flowers by the bankside and alerted the authorities, but the case was archived for lack of evidence shortly after.
The second murder was committed on March 12, 1871 also during the afternoon. Garayo met a poor widow begging in Portal del Rey and offered her to come with him. After she said that she had not eaten that day, Garayo gave her one real and told her to not get late, saying that he would be waiting for her in the road to Navarre. The woman bought bread and a glass of wine in an inn and the two walked the road to a place known as Labizcarra, 400 meters from the Recachiqui, where they had sex. Once again, Garayo offered a short sum, the woman protested and he brought her down and strangled her with his hands, returning home at night. The body was discovered the next day but once again the investigators found no lead to the culprit.
The third occurred on August 21, 1872. This time the murder was at noon and the victim wasn't a prostitute. Garayo was traveling to Gamarra Mayor when he met a 13-year-old servant girl walking on the opposite direction, who had been sent on an errand to Vitoria by her employers. Garayo seized her and hauled her off the road, oppressing her throat until she became unconscious, and raped her. He strangled her again until she died and hid the body in a ditch, returning to Vitoria by 2 PM. The discovery of the murder the next day caused a great commotion in Vitoria and its region. However, the doubled efforts of the investigators met again with a lack of leads, and even worse, with news of another murder only 8 days later, on August 29.
At dusk, Garayo approached a 23-year-old woman not far from his own home, that he knew to be lewd, and offered her money for sex. The two left this time by the Portal de Barreras and advanced through the road to La Rioja, Garayo walking a distance behind her to prevent people from seeing them together. They reunited after a while and had sex next to a bridge. Garayo offered her two reales and after she protested, three and then four. She kept demanding more and he brought her down and strangled her until he though she was dead. The victim, however, made a slight movement. Garayo then took her hairpin, straightened it, and stabbed her in the heart while holding her body under his knees. He placed the body next to the river and went back home during the night. The police investigated a soldier destined to Vitoria (the Third Carlist War had just broken out), but he was found innocent and cleared of suspicion. The panic among the population increased, with many women refusing to go outside alone and villages becoming deserted at night.
In August 1873, again during an afternoon, Garayo took another prostitute to the Recachiqui. Again he offered few money, she protested and he attempted to strangle her, but the woman could scream and alert some guards from Polvorín Viejo - the prison where Garayo would be executed in later - forcing him to flee.
In June 1874, Garayo happened upon an old, sickly beggar woman on the road of La Zumaquera. Without saying a word, Garayo attempted to strangle her, but she screamed and defended herself until two other women ar
Juan Díaz de Garayo