Got a tip? Send it to us at manila@coconuts.co
The charred body of a 23-year-old girl has been recovered in San Felipe, Zambales, a few hours after she was reported missing by her parents.
Karie Ces “Aika” De Dios Mojica’s face was unrecognizable because she had been shot in the head three times with a 9mm gun. She was also strangled and her body was burnt from the neck down, according to the police. Her parents were able to identify their daughter from her teeth and a tattoo on her body that said “Better Days”.
The suspect is 29-year-old Filipino-American Jonathan Dewayne Ciocon Viane, who left the Philippines on board an Eva Air flight bound for the United States via Taipei on Sunday morning — barely 24 hours after the crime was committed. Based on Philippine immigration records, he is from Anchorage, Alaska.
Police say the crime was likely premeditated. Vianne allegedly had a personal grudge against the victim for helping his ex-wife, Liane, in their child custody battle.
According to the victim’s mother, the suspect warned his ex-wife that, on her birthday, he was planning to do something that she would never forget, one that she would remember every time she celebrates her birthday.
Viane was implicated in the crime by his current 17-year-old girlfriend, identified as Chloe, who gave her testimony to Olongapo’s police and prosecutor’s office.
According to Chloe, while she and Aika were at a party celebrating Liane’s birthday, she received a text message from the suspect asking who was in the group. When the suspect learned that Aika was with them, he asked Chloe to bring her to him because he wanted to have a talk.
Chloe boarded a tricycle with the victim and brought her to the corner of 16th Street in Olongapo, near the Olongapo City National High School, where Viane was waiting behind the wheel of a silver Toyota car with his best friend, later identified as Niño Dela Cruz.
The car rental was later recovered by authorities and found to have blood stains. Olongapo Mayor Rolen Paulino has offered a PHP50,000 reward to anyone who can give information about the whereabouts of Vianne’s accomplice.
Murder charges were filed at the Olongapo Prosecutor’s Office against Viane and Dela Cruz and a letter of request sent to the BI and the Department of Justice asking that the suspect be prevented from leaving the country.
But it was too late.
This story is based on an ABS-CBN News report.
