THEUNISSEN - Police in the Free State have launched a manhunt for suspect(s) after two women were found murdered and their bodies discovered in separate abandoned buildings in Theunissen over the past weekend.
According to Free State police spokesperson Thabo Covane, the first murder incident was discovered on 7 November.
On the day, at around 03:40 am, members of the Neighbourhood Watch directed police to an abandoned building where they discovered the lifeless body of a woman.
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Covane said preliminary investigations confirmed that the 35-year-old woman had sustained multiple stab wounds.
“The victim was discovered half-naked with multiple injuries to the head and stomach. The victim was declared deceased on the scene by Emergency Medical Services personnel.
“Police are not ruling out the possibility that the victim may have been sexually violated,” he said.
According to Covan, on 8 November police attended a crime scene of a 25-year-old woman whose body was found in a decomposed state.
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“According to the report, children were playing at an abandoned building near the Day Care Centre in Masilo, Theunissen. The children were exposed to a horrific scene when they discovered the body of a half-naked woman inside a toilet with serious head injuries,” Covane said.
He said no arrests have been made in either case, but a multidisciplinary task team has been established to probe the murders.
"The motive for the two separate murders remains unclear at this stage, and no arrests have been made yet. Investigations into both incidents are underway."