The remains of a woman from Yogyakarta, identified as Ayu Shelisa, who was thought to be missing since 2009, were recently found in a septic tank at the home of her in-laws. Police suspect that she might have been murdered by her husband, identified as Edi Susanto, who died of suicide last month.
The remains were found on Sunday evening by residents of Karangjati village in Yogyakarta’s Bantul regency, where her in-laws lived. The discovery appears to be accidental, as they were just about to repair a long-abandoned septic tank located at the back of the house belonging to Waluyo, who is Edi’s father. Police were then called to the scene, and the remains were shortly brought to a local hospital for autopsy.
Police then identified the remains as Sheli – the victim’s nickname – on Wednesday, and said they suspected she might have been murdered by Edi.
“Witness testimony and clues led to Edi,” Bantul Police’s Crime Unit Chief Riko Sanjaya told Detik yesterday.
Edi committed suicide in November, and reportedly left a will in which he wrote that he’ll be joining Sheli. A week before his death, Riko said Edi told Waluyo that Sheli was dead and that her body was somewhere around the house.
“His father was shocked and didn’t dare to ask about how she died,” Riko added.
Edi’s death means that the case will soon be closed, as he was the main suspect. However, police are still questioning other witnesses as they have not ruled out the possibility of other people being involved in Sheli’s alleged murder.
“That’s why we are finding out more from the father, and if there are only minimal information from other witnesses, and all the clues only lead to Edi, we will close the case. But we hope there will be more witnesses who will speak up and give clues for us to follow up,” Riko said.
‘She was abused’
Sheli’s mother, 51-year-old Anik Maidarningsih, said her family filed a police report around the time of her daughter’s disappearance.
Edi and Sheli, who got married in 2006 and had no children, lived close to Waluyo’s house.
According to Anik, Sheli had conveyed to her that she wanted to leave Edi because she was physically abused, among other things. She didn’t expect that her late son-in-law would hurt her youngest daughter.
“She was abused, to the point that she was burned with a cigarette by Edi. Sometimes she cried because she wanted to leave her husband, but as a parent I could only give advice. I never expected Edi’s anger could go as far as hurting my daughter. It would’ve been better if my daughter was returned home,” Anik said yesterday, as quoted by Detik.
Anik said she repeatedly asked Edi about Sheli when they thought she was missing. Edi said that Sheli ran away from him and took IDR300,000 (US$21.58) with her. In addition, Edi allegedly told his neighbors that he and Sheli divorced in 2009.
Now that Sheli’s body has been found, Anik said she hopes her daughter will get the justice she deserves and for Edi’s family to bear some accountability of her alleged murder.
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