Spiritualist Arrested in Awutu Senya Over Alleged Murder of Girlfriend
Police Retrieve Mutilated Body After Suspect Confesses and Leads Officers to Scene
- A spiritualist has been arrested over the suspected murder of a woman in Awutu Senya.
- The suspect allegedly confessed and led police to the hidden body.
- The deceased was found mutilated, raising suspicions of ritual killing.
Police have arrested a young spiritualist, Horlali Alatusa, in connection with the suspected killing of a woman believed to be his girlfriend at Bentum in the Awutu Senya District of the Central Region of Ghana.
The suspect, believed to be in his early 20s, was apprehended after a farmer lodged a complaint about a strong and disturbing stench emanating from his farmland.
Residents reportedly escorted the suspect to the farm on Tuesday, March 10, suspecting that a body had been buried there. However, after digging through a trench believed to have been earlier dug by the suspect, they were unable to locate any remains.
Community members later alerted the police after discovering clots of blood at the site.
During police interrogation, the suspect reportedly confessed to the crime and subsequently led investigators to a location where the body of the deceased had been hidden.
The body of the unidentified woman was found severely mutilated, with her head, both legs, and private parts removed.
Residents in the community suspect the killing may have been ritual-related, claiming the suspect is known locally for inheriting spiritual practices and deities from his father.
Eyewitnesses who spoke in an interview said the last time the woman was seen alive was last Sunday when she was spotted in the community with the suspect. Her sudden disappearance later raised suspicions among residents.
Following the discovery of the body, angry youth in the community reportedly destroyed the suspect’s residence.
Police have since conveyed the remains of the deceased to a morgue, while the suspect remains in custody assisting with investigations.
In a related development, the body of a newborn baby was recently discovered in a nearby community with some vital body parts missing, raising further concerns among residents.
The chief of Bentum, Nai Bentum, has appealed to the police to increase security patrols in the area.
“We are all terrified by these incidents and would like to urge the police to intensify their operations here. We also appeal to authorities to install streetlights, especially along the main road leading to Krodua, to improve visibility,” he said.
