‘Unjust and baseless’: Son of Mango founder denies killing father, resigns as VP

Jonathan Andic, the son of late Mango founder Isak Andic, has denied allegations linking him to his father’s death, calling them “serious, unfair and baseless” and resigned as vice president of the fashion giant’s board of directors to focus on his legal defense.Jonathan Andich said in an open letter to employees published on Tuesday that a “biased” and “distorted” narrative had been created around the case following his arrest in Spain as part of an investigation into his father’s 2024 death.“The public narrative is based on a biased, distorted and taken-out-of-context perspective that creates a sense of guilt that has no bearing on reality,” Andich, 45, wrote in his first public comments on the case.“I have made this decision with sadness, but I am certain it is what is best for the company and me… I need to focus all my energy on proving my innocence,” he added.

The mystery behind the mango tycoon’s death

Isak Andic, founder of global clothing brand Mango, died after falling nearly 500 feet from a cliff in the Montserrat mountain range near Barcelona on December 14, 2024, while hiking with his son.The death was initially treated as a tragic accident. However, prosecutors reopened the investigation in October 2025, focusing on Jonathan Andich, whose statements investigators allegedly found were inconsistent with the circumstances of the fall.Jonathan Andic was arrested last week and later released on €1 million ($1.2 million) bail. The area where the fall occurred is part of a relatively easy hiking route commonly used by families and schoolchildren, according to investigators.Authorities reportedly questioned whether the nature of the fall fit Jonathan’s description of his father’s accidental slip.Investigators also examined forensic findings, which reported that Isaac Andich’s injuries and body position were inconsistent with an accidental fall, the BBC reported.Police reportedly found inconsistencies in Jonathan Andich’s account of events. In one version, he says he always walked ahead of his father, while in another, he says they were much closer.He also initially told police that his father was taking photos shortly before the fall, but investigators later found the phone in Isaac Andich’s pocket.Authorities further investigated three visits Jonathan allegedly made to the site in the days before the incident, which investigators believe may have involved “planning and research on the site,” the outlet reported.Police are also investigating the wider family and business background, including reported tensions over Isaac Andich’s plans to set up a charitable foundation.Investigators said text messages between father and son reflected tensions in their relationship and claimed Jonathan engaged in “emotional manipulation” of his father for “financial goals.”However, Jonathan Andich denied any conflict and told investigators that he had a good relationship with his father.Founded in the 1980s, Mango has grown to become one of Europe’s largest fashion retailers, with more than 16,000 employees and a 2024 turnover of 3.3 billion euros.