Australian woman found dead in hotel

MANILA, Philippines - A 58-year-old Australian was found dead inside the bathroom of her unit at a hotel in Manila on Monday afternoon.

Attendant Neric John Manalo found the body of Kimberly James Powell, who was billeted at the Paragon Hotel Tower in Ermita, according to Senior Police Officer 1 Alonzo Layugan.

Manalo discovered Powell’s body at around 3:30 p.m. when a visitor arrived and asked for the Australian’s room.

Manalo said they called Powell’s unit several times but there was no answer, prompting him to open the Australian’s room with a duplicate key.

The victim was found in the room naked from the waist down and was already in an advanced stage of decomposition.

Layugan said they found several types of medicine for hypertension and diabetes that the victim apparently owned.

Powell arrived in the country on October 16 and checked in at the hotel.

Police said they have notified the Australian embassy about Powell’s death.