NBI takes DNA samples of victim's family, male companion
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has taken DNA samples of the family of the murdered 16 year-old girl in Antique and her male companion to help in the agency's investigation of her death.
NBI investigating agent Arnold Diaz said the samples from the parents of Kirstin Mejica and from her 16-year-old companion will be compared to samples taken from the victim's remains.
The NBI is also requesting the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to allow them to take samples from the self-confessed 16-year old suspect. The suspect is under the protective custody of the DSWD being a minor.
Diaz said the DNA samples will be compared to the seminal fluid taken from the victim to help determine whether she was raped and by whom.
Mejica was found bludgeoned on the head and half-naked around 8 p.m. on January 31 at an isolated and grassy area in Barangay Funda-Dalipe in the capital town of San Jose in Antique. She died three hours later at the Angel Salazar General Memorial Hospital where she was taken.
Her companion was also hit on the head but survived. He initially told investigators that they were waylaid while riding on a motorcycle and lost consciousness after he was hit on the head.
The suspect has confessed to bludgeoning the two victims on the vacant lot because of a long time grudge on the male victim. But he has denied raping Mejica.
But Mejica's family believes she was raped or gang-raped and that the suspect was not involved or did not act alone.
Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said the NBI is undertaking its own investigation of the case upon the request of the families of Mejica and the other victim.
The NBI earlier confirmed that Mejica had sexual intercourse on the night she was killed.
But the autopsy report could not confirm whether she was raped or not.
An autopsy examination conducted by the NBI showed “no evident recent genital injuries” but confirmed that seminal fluid was found on the victim.
But Dr. Nicasio Botin, medico-legal officer of the NBI Western Visayas office, said in an earlier interview that the absence of recent genital injuries does not necessarily mean that there was no rape.
“It's not conclusive. We could not discount and rule out that possibility of rape,” said Botin.
Mejica's murder has shocked the peaceful and laid back town of San Jose and Antique province.
Residents have called for a thorough and swift investigation of the case and justice for the victims.