The foul stench from a car left unattended in a private subdivision in Caloocan City led authorities on Wednesday to a gruesome discovery.
Marilou Jorge, 49, was found around 6 p.m. inside the trunk of a Honda Civic, with plate number CTF-103, that had been parked on the basketball court of North Matrix Ville in Camarin.
Senior Police Officer 1 Noli Albis, case investigator, said the site was four blocks away from where the victim lived with her husband, Jose, a branch manager of water concessionaire Maynilad, and their two children.
According to Albis, Jorge was found braless and wearing a duster. Her hands were tied with a wire, and her head covered with a bag.
Chief Inspector Ronald Perilla, Camarin station commander, said that based on medical findings, Jorge died of a hemorrhage. The victim could have could have been dead even before she was placed inside the trunk, he added.
There were no signs of forced entry in the vehicle, which was registered in the victim’s name.
Residents in the area told investigators that the car had been parked on the basketball court since Tuesday morning.
A witness told police that he saw someone park the car on Tuesday, but the driver left in a hurry.
The victim’s husband said that the last time he saw his wife was when he left for work at 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
He said he had been trying to reach her by phone after he got home from work and did not find her in their house, but he didn’t get any reply.
Although police have yet to find a motive for the killing, Perilla said robbery has been ruled out since there was nothing missing in the victim’s house and in her car.