Disturbing Revelations in Diogo Jota’s Crash: Burn Marks, Voicemail, CCTV Footage, and a Mysterious Apartment Key

The tragic car crash on July 3, 2025, that claimed the lives of Liverpool and Portugal football star Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva on the A-52 motorway near Zamora, Spain, continues to unravel with chilling new developments. Initially attributed to a tire blowout, the accident involving their Lamborghini Huracan, which veered off the road and burst into flames, has revealed a series of perplexing clues. Investigators found 17 crescent-shaped burn marks beneath Jota’s seatbelt, matching a childhood scar on his back, as confirmed by his widow, Rute Cardoso. The car’s stereo was stuck on repeat, playing a cryptic voicemail from an unknown number whispering, “He wasn’t alone,” 54 times. CCTV footage from a neighbor showed the car pausing for nine seconds on an empty road with no visible occupants before accelerating into the crash site. Now, Cardoso has discovered a second apartment key in Jota’s coat pocket, leading her to an address where the door was open and a lit candle was found inside, seemingly in tribute to Jota. These findings have transformed the investigation into a haunting puzzle, raising questions about the true circumstances of the tragedy.

The Crash and Early Findings

The accident occurred as Jota, 28, and his brother André, 25, were driving toward Santander, Spain, to catch a ferry back to England for Liverpool’s pre-season training. The brothers had been celebrating Jota’s wedding to Rute Cardoso on June 22, 2025, just 11 days earlier. Spain’s Guardia Civil reported that the Lamborghini suffered a tire blowout while overtaking, causing it to skid approximately 100 meters off the A-52 motorway and ignite. The fire’s intensity destroyed much of the vehicle, complicating forensic efforts. Both brothers were pronounced dead at the scene, leaving Cardoso and their three young children, Denis, Duarte, and a daughter born in 2024.

Initial reports pointed to speeding, with tire marks suggesting the vehicle exceeded the 120 km/h (75 mph) speed limit. However, two Portuguese truck drivers, José Azevedo and José Aleixo Duarte, claimed the car was traveling at a moderate speed and that the road’s poor condition contributed to the crash. These conflicting accounts, combined with new evidence, have deepened the investigation’s complexity.

The Crescent-Shaped Burn Marks

Forensic experts identified 17 crescent-shaped burn marks beneath the driver’s seatbelt, presumed to be Jota’s position. These uniform marks, found on the seatbelt and nearby surfaces, were distinct from typical fire damage due to their precise shape and placement. Rute Cardoso revealed that the marks resemble a crescent-shaped scar on Jota’s back from a childhood accident in Porto, where he fell against a hot metal object. Cardoso told investigators, “That scar was part of Diogo’s story. If these burns are connected, I need to know why.”

The marks’ deliberate appearance has led to theories about a seatbelt malfunction, a chemical reaction, or a manufacturing defect in the Lamborghini Huracan. Automotive experts note that such burns are rare, and the crescent shape suggests an anomaly beyond standard fire dynamics. Forensic analysis continues to explore whether an object related to Jota’s scar or an external factor caused the marks.

The Cryptic Voicemail

The car’s stereo system was found stuck on repeat, having played a single voicemail 54 times. The message, from an unknown number, featured a whispered voice saying, “He wasn’t alone.” Recovered from the fire-damaged infotainment system, the audio has raised unsettling questions about its origin and meaning. The Guardia Civil is tracing the number, suspected to be a burner phone, but progress is slow. The phrase could refer to André’s presence or imply a third party, and the repetitive playback suggests either a glitch or deliberate tampering. Investigators are examining whether the audio distracted Jota, potentially contributing to the crash.

The Eerie CCTV Footage

CCTV footage from a neighbor near the crash site, surfaced in late July 2025, shows the green Lamborghini pausing for exactly nine seconds on an empty stretch of the A-52 motorway at 12:25 a.m., minutes before the crash at 12:30 a.m. Shockingly, the footage appears to show no visible occupants inside the vehicle, despite clear visibility through the windows. The car then accelerates rapidly toward the crash site, where it veered off and burst into flames.

The absence of visible occupants has sparked intense speculation. Some question whether the footage captures an optical illusion due to lighting or tinted windows, while others wonder if the car’s limited autonomous features were engaged, though Lamborghini confirms the Huracan lacked full self-driving capabilities. The Guardia Civil is verifying the footage’s authenticity, analyzing metadata to confirm its timestamp and integrity. The footage contradicts forensic evidence that Jota and André were inside during the crash, deepening the mystery.

The Mysterious Apartment Key

In a recent development, Rute Cardoso discovered a second apartment key in Jota’s coat pocket while sorting through his belongings. The key, unmarked and unfamiliar, was found in a jacket Jota wore during their trip. Curious and seeking answers, Cardoso traced the key to an apartment address in Zamora, near the crash site. Upon arriving, she found the door ajar and a single lit candle inside, placed on a table with a small photograph of Jota, suggesting a memorial tribute. No one was present, and the apartment appeared otherwise empty, with no signs of recent habitation.

Cardoso reported the discovery to the Guardia Civil, who are now investigating the apartment’s owner and any connection to Jota or André. The candle and photograph raise questions about who knew of Jota’s death so soon after the crash and why they would create such a tribute. The open door suggests someone left in a hurry or intended for the scene to be found. Investigators are exploring whether the apartment is linked to the voicemail’s unknown number or the CCTV footage, though no direct connection has been established.

Rute Cardoso’s Resolve

Rute Cardoso, Jota’s high school sweetheart and steadfast supporter through his rise from Paços de Ferreira to Liverpool stardom, is at the heart of the investigation. Her discoveries—the burn marks’ link to Jota’s scar and now the apartment key—have fueled her determination to uncover the truth. Her emotional statement, shared through a family representative, reads, “The burns, the voicemail, the empty car, and now this key and candle—it’s too much to be coincidence. Diogo and André deserve answers, and I won’t stop until we have them.” Her grief, captured in her collapse outside the morgue after identifying Jota’s body, has resonated with fans worldwide, who continue to offer support via social media.

Theories and Public Reaction

The accumulating evidence—burn marks, voicemail, CCTV footage, and the apartment key—has sparked widespread speculation. On platforms like X, theories range from mechanical failures to foul play. Some suggest a cyberattack could explain the stereo’s loop and the CCTV’s empty appearance, while others propose a personal item linked to Jota’s scar caused the burn marks. The apartment key and candle have led to speculation about a secret connection Jota may have had in Zamora, though no evidence supports this. The candle’s presence suggests someone with intimate knowledge of Jota, but their identity and motive remain unknown.

The CCTV footage’s claim of an empty car remains contentious, with skeptics citing potential manipulation or misinterpretation, as seen in earlier false videos about the crash. The road’s poor condition, noted by witnesses Azevedo and Duarte, who called it “in terrible condition,” supports theories that external factors, not just speeding, contributed to the tire blowout. The apartment’s open door and lit candle have fueled conspiracies about a staged memorial or a message left for Cardoso to find.

The Investigation’s Complexity

The Guardia Civil’s investigation is now a labyrinth of clues: the tire blowout, burn marks, voicemail, CCTV footage, and the apartment key. Forensic teams are analyzing the seatbelt, tire fragments, and electronic systems, despite the fire’s damage. The voicemail’s burner phone is being traced, with cybersecurity experts examining the infotainment system for tampering. The CCTV footage is under scrutiny for authenticity, and the apartment is being investigated for ownership and relevance. The final report, destined for the Puebla de Sanabria court, faces delays due to the case’s intricacy.

Conflicting witness accounts—speeding versus road conditions—add to the challenge. The footage’s empty car claim contradicts forensic evidence of the brothers’ presence, and the candle-lit apartment introduces a new layer of intrigue. Investigators are cross-referencing the apartment’s address with the voicemail’s number and the CCTV’s timeline to uncover potential links.

A Grieving Community

The football world continues to mourn, with tributes from Cristiano Ronaldo, Jürgen Klopp, and Liverpool players like Virgil van Dijk. A minute’s silence was held at the UEFA Women’s Euros, and fans have left tributes at Anfield’s Hillsborough Memorial. Jota’s legacy as a Premier League champion and Portugal international endures, but the eerie details of his death overshadow his memory.

A Legacy Shrouded in Mystery

Diogo Jota’s rise from Porto to global stardom inspired millions. His death, alongside André, has left a void in football and their hometown of Gondomar. The crescent-shaped burn marks, cryptic voicemail, eerie CCTV footage, and now the mysterious apartment key and candle have turned a tragic accident into a haunting enigma. As Rute Cardoso fights for answers, her resilience mirrors Jota’s spirit. The football world awaits the Guardia Civil’s findings, hoping for clarity in a case that grows more unsettling with each revelation.