LINDLEY: Authorities in Lindley have arrested a suspect following the discovery of two decomposed bodies in a house, sparking a murder investigation. The police were alerted by a foul smell emanating from the residence, which had raised suspicions among neighbors. The bodies, believed to be a mother and her minor daughter, were found under blankets, and the suspect is set to be arraigned in court.
According to South African Police Service, the Lindley police responded to a complaint from the community on December 31, 2024. Neighbors had noticed an overpowering odor and flies coming from a house in Ntha-Lindley, prompting them to alert the authorities. Upon arrival, police discovered that the occupant of the house had not been staying there recently. The owner’s car was found parked outside, but entry into the home was initially refused by the suspect.
Peering through a window, officers observed a decomposed body on the floor, covered with a blanket, alongside a second body of a minor. Preliminary investigations suggest the deceased may belong to a family from Mamafubedu near Petrus Steyn. The mother of the deceased woman reported that her daughter and granddaughter had traveled to Lindley on December 22, 2024, to visit the child’s father, and they had not been seen since.
Due to the advanced state of decomposition, authorities have collected DNA samples from the mother to confirm the identities of the deceased. A postmortem examination is planned to ascertain the cause of death. The investigation is ongoing, with the suspect facing charges of murder in the Reitz Magistrate court on January 3, 2025.