A woman who was found dead inside the waste-dumping pit of an unoccupied house at Oonnukal in Kothamangalam on Friday (August 22, 2025) has been identified, even as the police launched a search for her alleged murderer.
The victim has been identified as Santha, 61, of Kunnathuthazham, who had been missing from Vengoor near Perumbavoor since August 17, an investigation officer said on Saturday (August 23, 2025). The Oonnukal police registered a murder case after the body was found by officers who searched the premises following a complaint from the owner, who had noticed a theft attempt. The post-mortem examination conducted on Saturday reportedly found a head injury to be the cause of death.
The police suspect that a man in his 40s, known to Santha, reportedly committed the murder. The officer said investigators had identified the suspect based on CCTV footage. “We suspect a financial angle in the case as well,” he added.
The victim’s decomposed body was identified by her son. Police sources said a surgery mark on her neck played a key role in the identification.
Hailing from Rajakumari in Idukki, Santha had been residing at Vengoor with her family for the past few years. A missing case was registered at the Kuruppampady police station on August 20, two days after she allegedly left home. Her body was later found 40 km away.
