Second suspect pins husband in 2016 rape-slay of wife, son in Laguna

The husband in the rape and murder of a woman and her two-year-old child in Laguna in 2016 is now the primary suspect in the crime, the police said on Wednesday.

Pearl Helene and her son Denzel were beaten to death with a hammer in their residence in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna.

The police said second suspect Bryan Infante Avistado, who was arrested in GMA, Cavite on Monday pointed to Ricardo Sta. Ana as the alleged mastermind of the killing.

Avistado claimed that Sta. Ana allegedly hired him to kill his family with P60,000 as payment.

The police said Avistado’s confession supplements the earlier statement made by the first suspect, Ramoncito Gallo, who earlier surrendered to the police.

Gallo had also pointed to Sta. Ana as the mastermind of the crime.

Sta. Ana allegedly ordered the murder of his family after hearing rumors that his wife was having an affair with her ex-boyfriend and that the child was not his son.

The police are still tracing the whereabouts of Sta. Ana as of this posting.  /vvp