By Jennifer P. Rendon
A 44-year-old woman was killed after an unidentified intruder broke into her home in Barangay Arante in Sara, Iloilo early morning of Oct. 3.
Grace Fortaleza, a saleslady who also vlogged, died after being struck on the head with a piece of wood, police said.
Fortaleza was asleep when the assailant entered her home around 2 a.m. Thursday.
Investigators believe the intruder was attempting to sexually assault a 17-year-old orphan girl under Fortaleza’s care.
Maj. Jogen Suegay, Sara police chief, said Fortaleza likely woke up during the assault, prompting the suspect to attack her.
The teenage girl, who was sleeping next to Fortaleza, sustained neck injuries while being raped.
Fortaleza’s estranged husband, Gilbert, reported the incident to the Sara Municipal Police Station at 3:10 a.m. after being informed by his wife’s sister.
When Gilbert arrived, Fortaleza was already dead.
The crime came to light when the survivor ran to a neighbor’s house for help.
Suegay said they have a person of interest but declined to provide details. The suspect gained entry by breaking a window.
Police are still establishing a motive, but Fortaleza’s family believes the intruder intended to sexually abuse the girl.
The suspect stole the victims’ mobile phones and destroyed a closed-circuit television camera.
Gilbert described his estranged wife as hardworking, saying she provided for their foster daughter and their child, who was in his custody.
The couple had been together for 24 years before separating two years ago.
