Kattappana double murder: Deceased’s wife arrested, neonate’s body yet to be found

Sources privy to the probe disclosed that Suma’s mental health had been a concern during the early stages of the investigation. However, recent assessments indicated that she was now stable, which led to her arrest as a key suspect in the cover-up.

Suma’s arrest raised further questions about the intricacies of the double murder, prompting investigators to delve deeper into the connections and motives behind the crime.

“She had made some revelations. But it cannot be disclosed now. She had agreed that the neonate was murdered and the body was disposed of,” a police officer said.

Suma was produced in Kattappana First Class Judicial Magistrate Court and remanded in custody.

Also Read: How a case of theft led Kerala police to suspected twin murder

The case

Besides Vijayan, his daughter’s newborn, too, was killed in separate incidents. The neonate’s body has not been found.

In 2023, Nitheesh, the first accused allegedly clobbered Vijayan to death with a hammer following a verbal duel. He along with Vishnu, the second accused, and Suma, dug up a hole in the floor of their rented house at Kattukada and buried the body. Vishnu is Vijayan’s son.

The police and forensic experts exhumed Vijayan’s mortal remains from the house. The body was found inside a cardboard box. The police had earlier found the hammer which was reportedly used to murder Vijayan.

An investigation into a theft case had led the police to the double murder. Nitheesh and Vishnu were picked up for interrogation in the theft case, and they revealed the murders.

(Edited by Majnu Babu)