Case solved as killer confesses

A 24-year-old man bothered by his conscience on Tuesday confessed to the killing of his live-in partner whose death had already been written off by the police as a case of suicide.

Following his confession, Christopher dela Cruz was charged with murder in connection with the death of his 22-year-old partner, Rechelle Escandor, who was initially believed to have hung herself in the bathroom of their house on Villarica Street, Mandaluyong City. Her body was found by Dela Cruz’s mother, Victoria, at 4 a.m. on Sunday.

Case investigator PO3 Edison Plarisan said that when he went to the couple’s house, he saw no signs of a struggle or of anything suspicious, leading him and other investigators to rule out foul play.

During Escandor’s wake, however, Dela Cruz broke down and told Barangay 628 chair Arnulfo Escobedo and the victim’s mother that he had strangled the victim after he banged her head against the wall.

He said that he and Escandor had a big fight and when she spanked him, he was enraged.