Korean woman found dead in Quezon City

Korean businesswoman found dead in car
By Jerry Botial (The Philippine Star) April 11, 2010
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=565362&publicationSubCategoryId=65

MANILA, Philippines - A Korean businesswoman was found dead in the backseat of her own car in Quezon City yesterday morning.

Chief Inspector Benjamin Elenzano, Quezon City Police District (QCPD) homicide investigation chief, said Kim Young Suk, 52, a resident of Loyola Heights, was found sprawled in the backseat of her blue Ford Lynx (XAR-636) parked in front of her rented house along Xavierville Avenue yesterday at 9 a.m.

The cause of her death is still being determined. SPO1 Mario Turiano of the QCPD’s Crime Investigation and Detection Unit, said according to Sandra Kim, the victim’s friend, Kim owned a coffee shop in the area and had been engaged in business in the country for some years.

Turiano said her face was swollen and no traces of blood were found anywhere near the body.

FROM : http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/04/10/10/korean-businesswoman-found-dead-car

Investigators suspect foul play.

The Quezon City Police Department-Scene of the Crime Operations (QCPD-SOCO) said Kim’s cellphone, jewelry and handbag were missing.

Police said there were also other pieces of evidence which indicate the victim was not alone shortly before she died.

“May maiikling buhok na hindi match sa biktima na nakita sa driver’s seat… kita rin ang undies [underwear], tinitignan [namin] kung may sexual intercourse,” said Senior Inspector Elizalde Odo, team leader of the QCPD SOCO Team.

UPDATE: Based on the limited information given in these news reports,  I asked The Doctors to speculate on the possible cause of death of the victim.

Dr. H said : if there was no sign of blood trauma, it could be due to two things: she might have had pulmonary congestion and so there was a damming back of blood to the upper extremities. Second, it might have been due to postmortem change but this would be together with other signs of postmortem lividity. I think there could be a third one, this person might be a suffering from chronic asthma and that's part of a change in the long time use of steroids.

Dr. D said : Or maybe she was strangled... That would explain the swollen face, different kind of hair in her hand and the fact that she was in the backseat of the car.

Face will get swollen because of constriction in the neck. It would be helpful if there were bruises, hematomas noted in the neck that are circumferential or are in the shape of fingers. That would lead to the conclusion of strangulation.

Different kind of hair in the hand might point to a struggle. Imagine yourself being strangled by someone. You'd try anything to take that grip off your neck... like pulling on the other person's hair. You'd also kick and claw at anything you can reach. So it would be helpful if they found anything under the nails of the victim. Blood, seat material or fabric and dead skin which is not the victims are usually a signs that there was a struggle.