‘Blunt force trauma killed man’

The man who was killed in his home along Tun Joaquin Doi Road in Finasisu reportedly died of blunt force trauma to the head, while his female partner sustained similar injuries.

With the Department of Public Safety continuing its investigation into the Finasisu homicide reported last Thursday, it has been determined that the man found dead in the old Ladera International School died of blunt force trauma to the head.

In addition, based on how the body was found, DPS says the victim had been dead within the last 12 to 24 hours before he was found.

During a press conference last Friday, DPS spokesperson Fred Sato said investigators have yet to determine as of press time the murder weapon (if one was used at all), and the motive behind the killing.

“The male died due to blunt force trauma so that’s why investigators are looking at every angle—if there was a weapon, if it was physical contact, etc. The motive is still being established as far as the investigation is going. Investigators are still trying to figure out what weapon was used on the victims or if there was a weapon at all. Based on the information I’ve gathered, investigators are still trying to determine the motive for the incident. We can’t determine if it was burglary, a robbery, domestic [violence], or if it was someone they may have had over,” he said.

DPS has also yet to disclose whether there were any signs of forced entry, if there was more than one perpetrator, or if the incident was drug- or gang-related, but DPS assures that all angles are being looked into.

“Right now, we don’t have any information that could determine whether there was more than one perpetrator, if they were on foot, we don’t know if it’s gang related, drug related, but all angles are being looked at as far as this investigation goes. …There were no reported signs of forced entry but because the investigation is still ongoing, we can’t say if there was forced entry. If you see this complex, it’s beat down. You have windows without bars or screens and it’s sort of dilapidated [so] that anyone could get access into it,” he said.

Sato also shared that, as of press time, the female victim is still in critical condition.

“Based on reports, the woman had trauma and injuries to her face. Police remain posted at the female victim’s room at [the Commonwealth Health Center] to ensure her safety and also should she regain consciousness, investigators can be immediately alerted to conduct an interview with her. But she remains unconscious,” Sato said.

In disclosing more details about the gruesome killing during last Friday’s press conference, Sato said that 911 received a call last Saturday morning from a woman who stated that there might be injured people in an apartment in Finasisu. It was later determined that the female caller is a colleague of the female victim. Both are teachers at a local private school.

The woman reportedly told police that she panicked at the sight of blood when she looked through one of the home’s windows, so she immediately looked for help.

“What we gathered was that the female victim did not show up to work that day, so an associate in the campus called the victim to do a welfare check on her. She could see through the window that there was blood so she, in a panic, immediately looked for someone to help her call for police assistance because of the language barrier,” said Sato.

At the scene and immediately upon entering the home, police found traces of blood leading into one of the bedrooms, Sato said. Upon entering the bedroom, police immediately saw a man lying on the floor in a pool of blood, with the female lying nearby and whose face was also covered in blood.

“Officers went inside and approached the room and noticed traces of blood on the floor leading to the bedroom. In the bedroom, police found a male lying on the floor lying in a pool of blood and the woman was seen nearby. Medics immediately provided medical aid to the woman before both victims were transported to the Commonwealth Health Center,” he said.

Sato said investigators are also reaching out to close friends, acquaintances, and colleagues of the couple to get more details about the pair’s lives.

“So far, the investigators have initiated their investigation from the time they were summoned to the scene, establishing timelines, [and] gathering any information [from] associates [of] the victims, friends. Police are communicating with the caller who made the 911 call and they are gathering any information regarding the two victims. Unfortunately, we cannot release the identity of the two victims until we notify the next of kin,” he said.

The only information DPS has been able to release about the pair is that the man is a known electrician, the woman is a private school teacher, both are in their 50s, and both are Chinese nationals.

“They are both legal residents with green cards and are long-time residents of the island,” Satpo said.

DPS continues to ask for the public’s help and to say something if they hear or see anything.

“We have been receiving tips from the Crime Stoppers hotline so investigators are actively pursuing the tips coming in. We do not have potential suspects at this time and the case remains an open investigation. We would hope that, if the public had seen anything unusual or suspicious, go ahead and give us a call. Investigators have been working through the evening as well. As you know, we are a small department so cases like this, everyone…combine their efforts to work on this particular case. DPS Commissioner Clement Bermudes has all boots on the ground working this case,” said Sato.

About 20 men and women from the DPS Criminal Investigation Bureau are currently working on this case.