USAKOS – Cold-blooded family murders have left the small town of Usakos gripped by horror and disbelief, with the ripple-effects of the tragedy being felt across the country.
The incident took place in the Hakhaseb location between 04h00 and 06h30 on Saturday.
It claimed the lives of an 86-year-old matriarch and four great-grandchildren, who were brutally killed and set alight in what is now being described as one of the most gruesome crimes in recent memory. The alleged perpetrator, an 18-year-old male relative, was yesterday reported to be receiving treatment at the Usakos State Hospital under police supervision.
The deceased have been identified as Elisabeth Naruses (86) and her great-grandchildren Ibra Naruses (6), Raunisha Boer (6), Rachel Boer (3), Emi Naruses (3) and granddaughter Fenny Naruses (18),.
Fenny’s twin brother is now considered a key suspect in the brutal killings after being questioned by police on Saturday. A forensic team has since been dispatched to Usakos to conduct a full-scale investigation.
Family members narrated that the suspect and Fenny are children of Naruses’ last-born, who earlier died, resulting in Naruses raising the twins too.
Initially, the crime was reported as a fire incident. However, it quickly turned into a murder investigation after it became clear that the room had been set alight to cover up the killings. Only the room where the victims were sleeping burnt, while the rest of the house remained intact. That detail raised suspicion, and ultimately led to the suspect being subsequently arrested.
Erongo police crime investigations coordinator, Chief Inspector Ileni Shapumba, confirmed the arrest, and stated that the suspect sustained injuries on both feet and is currently receiving medical treatment at the Usakos State Hospital.
Police are yet to establish exactly how he got injured.
“The suspect, who turned 18 today [Sunday], is a relative of the deceased persons. He is also charged with defeating the course of justice for setting the victims on fire after the attack to conceal the crime,” Shapumba said.
Police now suspect that the suspect entered the room and attacked the deceased with an iron axe and knobkierie all over their bodies and thereafter set them on fire, resulting in first to second-degree burns.
The murder weapons were found at the brutal crime scene.
Shapumba said the motive for the brutal murders is still unclear, while the police forensic team is continuing its investigations to determine exactly what transpired.
He indicated that all possible motives are being looked at to solve the murder.
Family
Close relative Ewalde Lingongo, who spoke on behalf of the family yesterday, told New Era that they are devastated by the loss, and struggling to make sense of the brutal killings.
“We are in shock and deeply traumatised. What makes this even more painful is that the suspect is her [Elisabeth’s] own great-grandchild – and the twin brother of one of the children who was killed,” Lingongo said.
She described Elisabeth, affectionately known as ‘Ouma’, as a loving and kind woman who had already endured the pain of losing all 10 of her own children.
“Ouma raised her great-grandchildren with nothing but her pension money. She gave them love, care and stability. She was our mother, our grandmother… everything. We are completely broken,” she said.
Lingongo added that the family now faces the daunting task of laying six loved ones to rest while still grappling with the emotional trauma.
“At this stage, we don’t even know where to begin. Apart from the emotional pain, we now also have to deal with the financial burden of burying six family members. Please keep our family in your prayers — even those involved in this senseless murder,” she pleaded.
A community member who visited the crime scene described it as the most horrific incident the town has ever experienced.
“There was blood everywhere… I still can’t comprehend how one can murder an elderly woman and innocent children in such a brutal way. We, the people of Usakos, are shaken to the core. This is the worst criminal act we’ve ever encountered in our town,” she reiterated.