The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Wednesday, July 15, said it now has two “persons of interest” (POI) in the fatal shooting of an American marine scientist and the alleged sexual assault of his Filipino partner in Sibulan, Negros Oriental.
Negros Oriental Police director, Col. Timmar Alam, said the 34-year-old woman, who was the partner of Kent Carpenter, 73, is considered a POI, along with her sibling, who has been frequently visiting the couple’s house.
“We already have a POI, we have 2 POIs, but hopefully they can help us pinpoint the suspects we saw (the live-in partner). For now, she is still considered a POI and the other POI is the woman’s brother. He is the one who often goes to the house,” Alam told reporters in Camp Crame during a phone interview on Wednesday.
He clarified, however, that there is no evidence at this point linking the sibling directly to the crime.
Based on initial closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage, police believe the attack may not have been meticulously planned.
“The suspects’ actions don’t seem to be that planned because the suspects seem to be in their 20s. It was just a coincidence, it seemed like whoever had the opportunity would be the one they go into,” Alam said.
He said investigators noted inconsistencies in the woman’s account of the incident.*PNA
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