Virgnia Sharpe and daughter Mica Ella (CDN PHOTO/ FE MARIE DUMABOC)
The mother and daughter who were found buried in the septic tank of their Minglanilla home last week were killed with blows to the head.
An autopsy report said both sustained blunt injuries to their heads that caused their death.
Contrary to earlier reports, they had no stab wounds. There was also no sign of sexual abuse in the death of Virginia Sharpe, 38, and 11-year-old Mica Ella, said Chief Insp. Richard Gadingan, head of the Minglanilla Police Station.
Virginia’s husband Robert Sharpe arrived from London yesterday. He went to the police station to thank them for the speedy resolution of the crime but said he still could not accept the fate of his family in Cebu.
His initial plan is to have the bodies cremated today.
READ: Woman, daughter found dead inside septic tank at Minglanilla home
Double-murder charges will be filed on Monday against three laborers arrested by police.
The two bodies were discovered last Thursday buried in the concrete tank under the kitchen floor of their house in Deca Homes Phase 2, barangay Tungkil, Minglanilla.
Neighbors noticed a foul odor coming from the house after the mother and child had not been seen for several days.
Policemen and a friend of Virginia entered the house and discovered the concealed burial place.
Police arrested three laborers who had been renovating the house.
Investigators said they were able to establish that Manuel Labrador, who was hired for pakyaw labor, connived with two habal-habal drivers Estelito Ricamora and George Baquiran, to kill the victims.
Police said Virginia was set to pay P190,000 to Labrador, their agreed contract price, but she was also pressing him to pay back the P25,000 cash he earlier borrowed from her. Police said this was likely the motive of the killing.
Labrador recruited the two suspects to help him in the house renovation which was being done in preparation for Robert’s arrival from abroad. The three workers are from Lower Calajoan in Minglanilla.
They were seen entering the house on August 14, the last day the victims were seen alive.
Gadingan said it was Labrador who killed the victims and he asked Ricamora and Baquiran to help bury the bodies.