Woman, 85, stabbed dead in QC home

An 85-year-old businesswoman was stabbed to death inside her house in Quezon City in what the police believe to be a robbery carried out by a newly-hired houseboy.

The body of Priscilla Fernandez was discovered at 1 p.m. Wednesday after her nurse and driver asked barangay officials and the police for help.

The suspect, identified as RJ Verano, 24, remains at large.

Fernandez’s house on Sto. Domingo Street in Barangay Sto. Domingo, Quezon City, was also found to be in disarray with many valuables missing, including jewelry, cash, gadgets and even the surveillance cameras.

Chief Insp. Elmer Monsalve, head of the homicide division of Quezon City police’s Criminal Investigation and Detection Unit, said they had yet to determine the worth of the stolen valuables.

According to a police report, Verano started working for Fernandez on July 13 after he was hired through Delta Employment Agency. It was learned that the victim’s son had hired the suspect to accompany his mother as he was leaving the country to attend a seminar.

The victim was last seen alive on Tuesday night after her private nurse and driver brought food to her house.

On Wednesday afternoon, the nurse and driver returned to check on Fernandez. When no one answered their repeated knocks on the gate, they asked the police and barangay officials for help.