Artist sketches of 2 suspects in motel fire deaths identical

Police finally confirmed that the slayings of two women in separate hotels in Manila were perpetrated by the same man after the artist’s sketches of both suspects were found identical.

“Our manhunt is now focused on a single suspect. The artist sketches prove that the two killings were perpetrated by only one man, aside from our findings that the two circumstances in the slaying and burning of his victims are almost identical,” Chief Inspector Dominador Arevalo Jr. who heads the homicide section of the Manila Police District said.

This developed as police also released yesterday an artist sketch of the woman killed and burned in one of the rooms of the Sweet Hotel in Sta. Cruz, Manila on Friday. The facial features of the still unidentified woman, described as between 60 and 65 years old and at least 5’2" in height, was furnished by  the hotel cashier who attended to the victim and her male partner when they checked in.

Police had to release the artist sketch of the woman, called “Norma L.” based on the initials found on her partially burned t-shirt, in order for her relatives to identify her, according to Arevalo.

The second victim, described as about 30 years old, slim and with long hair, was found with face partially burned inside a room at the Happy Hotel in Quiapo Sunday night. Police are still trying to look for witnesses who can provide her facial descriptions.

No one had claimed both victims, whose bodies are stored at the morgue of the Popular Funeral Homes in Sta. Cruz.

“The circumstances surrounding the two killings are almost identical, wherein the suspect rented the hotel room for more than 12 hours. He also burned both victims to hide the crime,” Arevalo said.

The suspect was described as between 35 and 40 years, about five-foot-six and of medium built. He registered as Marvin Cachola at the Happy Hotel. The Sweet Hotel does not require its occupants to register their names.

Arevalo said he will request the National Statistics Office, the Commission on Elections or even the National Bureau of Investigation, aside from the police files, to furnish the MPD records of all “Marvin Cacholas” in their files.

Investigators are still puzzled on the motives for the killings since they do not have yet the personal records of the two victims. “If only we can talk with relatives of the victims, then we can start from there with our investigation. We are still at a loss why these victims have to suffer gruesome deaths,” Arevalo said. 

Investigators said the suspect could be a psycho who may have experienced severe depression with women partners.