Couple’s death probed thru food, drinks receipts

The Cavite-based couple whose death was initially traced to poisoning had bought food and drinks from two different stores hours before they were found dying at a mall car park in Las Piñas City on Thursday night, according to the police.

Based on a receipt recovered from their vehicle, Juliet and Jose Maria Escano bought two Sausage McMuffins and two servings of orange juice from a McDonald’s at the Shell gas station on Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City at 9:30 a.m.

At 1:51 p.m., the couple ordered two Slurpees from a 7-Eleven in Alabang, Muntinlupa City, based on another receipt given to the authorities by the couple’s son Dino.

At 7:35 p.m., a security guard at the mall’s parking area found Julia Escano unconscious in the front seat of their black Toyota Innova.

A weak but still responsive Jose Maria was found lying on the pavement just behind the vehicle, the guard told the police.

Juliet was immediately brought to Metro South Medical Center in Bacoor City, Cavite, while a nurse employed by the mall first tried to revive Jose Maria before the latter was brought to Las Piñas Medical Center.

Juliet was pronounced dead on arrival at Metro South, while Jose Maria died around 3 a.m. the next day at Las Piñas Medical.

The Las Piñas police received a report on the incident around 9 p.m. Thursday.

Initial findings by the Scene of the Crime Operatives stated “shock, secondary to ingestion of toxic substance” as the cause of their deaths.

In an interview on Saturday, Chief Insp. Rey Viloria said that with the recovery of the store receipts, “we’re not saying that (the toxic substance) came from there (stores). We’re looking at all angles.”

Viloria said it was possible that “something accidentally” contaminated the couple’s food and drinks while they were in transit or that there was foul play involved.

Investigators were also still awaiting the results of the toxicology analysis on the vomit residue found splattered inside the couple’s vehicle, he added.

“Everything they ate… and what chemicals were found there [can be known from the report]. The initial findings showed that their esophagus and stomach were burned (sunog),” said Viloria, the Las Piñas police information officer.

According to the case records, Juliet Escano was a bank manager while Jose Maria was a pharmaceutical sales manager. They lived in Bahayang Pag-asa, Imus, Cavite province.

Insp. Eleazar Camiling, the chief investigator, said they would also look into security camera videos of the business establishments that the Escanos entered that day.

The couple’s mobile phones were also submitted to Camp Crame for analysis, Camiling said.

Also on Saturday, Golden Arches Development Corp., the company that brought McDonald’s to the country, asked the public to avoid speculating and let the proper investigation take place on the Escano case.

“Nothing is more important to McDonald’s than the safety and well-being of all our customers… We adhere to strict food safety and quality standards at all times,” the company said in a statement.

It noted that while the police had stated toxic substance as the cause of the deaths, “the substance and its source have not been identified.”

“In respect for the family of the deceased, we would like to appeal to the public to avoid speculating and let the proper investigation take place.

“We also extend our sincere condolences to the Escano family and their loved ones. We assure them and the public that McDonald’s will fully cooperate with the authorities should they request for our assistance in the investigation.”