MANILA, Philippines — An elderly couple was found dead inside their home in Novaliches, Quezon City over the weekend, police said Monday.
A report from the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) showed that the bodies of Nicolas Austria, a retired engineer; and Leonora Austria, a retired government employee, were discovered by officials of Barangay San Agustin on Sunday afternoon.
Police said the couple’s daughter, Maria Liza, came knocking on her parents’ home around 2:00 p.m. May 26 to pay them a visit. But after repeated calls, no one from the Austria couple’s house answered. This prompted Maria Liza to ask assistance from village officials to force open the gate.
When they entered the house, they first saw house helper Editha Fernandez, 63, lying on the kitchen with bruises on her body. She was rushed to Capitol Medical Center for treatment.
Lt. Col. Rossel Cejas, commander of Novaliches Police Station, said the body of Nicolas was then discovered near the master’s bedroom; and subsequently, the body of Leonor inside its bathroom. Police said the couple are both aged 80.
Based on the initial report of Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) led by Captain Jose Bonifacio, the victims’ bedroom was in disarray. They also found a kitchen knife, a steel pipe with blood stains, a cellphone with latent fingerprints, a red sando with blood stains, and short pants inside the house.
“Sa ngayon ay wala pa tayong established na motibo sa pagpatay sa mag-asawa pero isa sa tinitingnan ay ang pagnanakaw dahil sa magulong sitwasyon ng mga gamit sa bahay at inaalam na natin ang mga nawawalang gamit,” QCPD director Brig. Gen. Joselito Esquivel Jr. said.
Police said initial examination showed the couple sustained stab wounds in the different parts of their bodies while Fernandez, apart from bruises, also sustained head fracture.
The Austria couple’s bodies were turned over to the Philippine National Police-Crime Laboratory Office for autopsy, authorities said. (Editor: Katherine G. Adraneda)