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Family of five found dead in possible mass murder in Medan
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Police guard a house where a family of five was killed in Medan, North Sumatra, on April 9. The youngest child,2, survived but was severely injured. (Antara/Irsan Mulyadi)
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n apparent mass murder has taken place at a house on Jl. Kayu Putih in the densely-populated Medan Deli district in Medan, North Sumatra. On Sunday morning at 10 a.m., locals discovered a family of five dead and covered in blood in their house.
The victims are husband Riyanto, 50, wife Sri Ariyani, 35, Sri’s mother Sumarni, 60, and the couple’s children Naya, 13, and Gilang, 8. Stab wounds were allegedly found on their bodies. The police have taken the bodies to Bhayangkara Hospital in Medan for an autopsy.
Meanwhile, the family’s youngest child, two-year-old Kirana, was found alive but had bruises all over her body. The toddler has been admitted to Mitra Medika Hospital for intensive care.
Spripim, 40, a neighbor, said suspicions of murder arose after local people noticed that the lights of the family’s house were still on even though the sun had come up. He said he called Riyanto’s name but no one replied. He then saw that the door at the side of the house was open. He entered and was shocked to see the family members covered in blood. He then screamed for help.
Murni, Riyanto’s mother, urged the police to arrest the perpetrator. She also said the family’s motorcycle and jewelry were missing from the house.
North Sumatra Police spokeswoman Sr. Comr. Rina Sari Ginting said the police had formed a team of investigators from the North Sumatra Police and the Medan Police to investigate the possible murder case.
“Our initial suspicion is robbery with violence,” she said, adding that the case might qualify as the most sadistic murder case in the province so far this year. (rin)
