American killed self to evade arrest

DAVAO CITY — The mystery that shrouded the death of a 52-year-old American here was finally unraveled after a two-page suicide letter was found among his belongings inside a room of the Waterfront Insular Hotel Davao.

"At any rate, I was not planning on returning, at least in one piece," Charles William Sens said in his suicide note that was addressed to his twin brother Thomas.

The suicide note was opened last Friday in the presence of representatives from the US Embassy who flew into town to check on Sens’ death.

Sens, who had a gunshot wound in the head, was found positive for gunpowder nitrate, indicating that he shot himself with the caliber .357 revolver which was found near his body. He was found dead inside the Waterfront premises last Monday.

Sens was apparently evading arrest in the United States for allegedly violating Internet laws, particularly on child pornography.

The STAR found out that Sens had a run-in with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after he was reported to have an international "child pornography website." Federal agents raided his home in Minnesota last year and seized his computer.

Sens’ niece, Jody Schroader of Minnesota, confirmed her uncle’s case in an exchange of e-mails with The STAR.

Schroader said his uncle panicked and hastily left for the Philippines just when he, accompanied by his lawyer, was supposed to turn himself in to authorities last Aug. 27.

"Now, why did I ran? After Montana, I promised myself that I would never leave the outcome of my life to a lawyer. After all, they don’t really care, because win or lose, they still go home at night, they still have a job the next day, and business as usual," Sens said in his suicide letter.