Eastern Cape police have arrested five people in connection with the double murders in a retirement village in Stella Londt Road, Port Elizabeth. Two women were tied up in their rooms Thursday morning and presumably strangled.
The suspects, four men and a woman who worked as a caregiver in the retirement village, were arrested early Friday morning in the Port Elizabeth area.
COL. Eastern Cape police spokeswoman Priscilla Naidu says an unknown number of suspects gained access to the retirement village on Thursday through an open door and a rail door on the upper level of the complex’s main building.
“They entered the room of 91-year-old Agnes Elaine Burns, where they killed and robbed her. She was found on the bed with her feet and hands tied and her mouth shut. The suspects then went to Rosemary Langton’s room where they also tied her up and killed her. “
Naidu said the staff at the retirement village found the bodies of the two residents at about 5:45 on Thursday.
“Police suspect theft was the motive as Krugerrands, jewelry – including gold rings and a gemstone wedding ring – and a cellphone were stolen.
“Some of the stolen items were found with a suspect in the Kuyga area.
“There were no visible wounds to the elderly, but the preliminary investigation indicates they were strangled and suffocated.
“The 34-year-old female suspect is a caregiver in the retirement village and was on duty during the incident,” Naidu says.
Lieutenant General. Provincial Police Commissioner Liziwe Ntshinga praised the task force for excellent detective work.
