Team Herald
QUEPE: A chilling murder has rocked the quiet locality of Modevado, Paroda, where a 57-year-old woman, Ubaldina Braganza, was found dead in her residence on Thursday afternoon.
A post-mortem examination confirmed homicide, with sources revealing that the victim had been stabbed in the head and subsequently strangled with a scarf.
Quepem police have launched an intensive investigation into the case, focusing on a labourer employed at Ubaldina's property.
Locals speculate the motive could be linked to cash she was reportedly carrying, intended as wages for the construction workers she was overseeing.
Sequence of Events
According to neighbors, Ubaldina was alone in her Paroda house on Thursday, managing the construction of her new home. Situated at the end of a stretch comprising 11 houses, her secluded location may have made her a target.
Preliminary police findings suggest the assailant lay in wait and struck her from behind, causing a severe head injury. Following this, the attacker allegedly locked the front door, used a dupatta to strangle her, and fled with stolen cash and a gold chain.
Bloodstains were discovered at the scene, and evidence indicates the suspect escaped through the back door, discarding the dupatta in nearby farmland.
Critical Timeline
Ubaldina’s daughter, Mafilla Fernandes, reportedly spoke to her mother over the phone at 12:45 PM, shortly before the attack.
Police estimate the crime occurred between 12:45 PM and 2:00 PM.
Ubaldina, who was staying at her daughter’s residence in Aquem-Margao, traveled daily to Paroda to supervise construction work. With her husband and son working abroad, she was managing the project alone.
Investigation Underway
The brutal murder has prompted a multi-agency effort. Teams from Quepem, Curchorem, and Curtorim police stations visited the crime scene on Friday. A dog squad and fingerprint experts were deployed to gather evidence. Authorities assured residents that the suspect would be apprehended soon.
The incident has left the Modevado community in shock, as police intensify their hunt for the perpetrator.