BY: ANGELICA ARQUERO
A 72-year-old woman was found dead inside the store she was tending in Barangay Wangal, La Trinidad, Benguet. Authorities believe robbery was the motive behind the crime.
A witness recounted that he had attempted to buy from the store around 9 p.m. on Sunday, February 23, but the victim was nowhere to be found.
“I knocked on the store, but no one answered. I waited for a while, but still, no one responded. I thought it was unusual because the store normally closes later,” the witness said.
When authorities arrived, they discovered the victim had suffered head trauma, which was later confirmed as the cause of death.
“The autopsy revealed that the victim died from blunt traumatic injuries to the head, which led to internal bleeding,” said Police Lt. Col. Zacarias Caloy P. Dausen, acting chief of the La Trinidad Municipal Police Station.
Police suspect that the victim might have known the perpetrator.
“We are looking into the possibility that the suspect owed money to the victim,” Dausen added.
Authorities also confirmed that money was taken from the store, but the exact amount remains unknown.
The investigation is still ongoing, and the suspect, once identified, may face charges of murder and robbery.
The victim’s family has declined to give any statements at this time.
