The bodies of a 78-year-old man and his 36-year-old daughter were found in a locked apartment under suspicious circumstances. Police identified the deceased as Samuel Sankar, 78, and his daughter Ann Cynthia, 37, both from Vellore. The duo had been residing in Thirumullaivoyal in order that he can get dialysis treatment at a private hospital in the city.
According to police sources, relatives grew concerned after repeated attempts to contact them failed. When no response was received to phone calls, the Thirumullaivoyal Police were alerted. Officers traced the location using mobile phone signals and, upon breaking open the locked apartment, discovered the decomposed bodies.
Inspector George Miller of Thirumullaivoyal Police sent the bodies for postmortem and launched an investigation. Scrutiny of Cynthia’s call records led them to Samuel Ebinezer, 34, a native of Orikkai, Kancheepuram district, who had studied medicine in Vienna and was reportedly in close contact with Cynthia. Police detained Ebinezer, who was staying in the same apartment complex.
Initial inquiries revealed that Cynthia, estranged from her husband, had moved to the apartment with her father based on Ebinezer’s suggestion. He had allegedly been providing medical treatment to her father, including dialysis procedures.
Investigations suggest that Samuel Sankar died in September, allegedly due to improper treatment. A dispute between Cynthia and the doctor ensued, during which Ebinezer allegedly pushed her, rendering her unconscious. Panicking, he fled the scene, locking the apartment without informing authorities.
Police are now probing whether Sampath’s death resulted from medical negligence or natural causes. Additionally, they are investigating the exact circumstances that led to Cynthia’s death.
Authorities also noted that the air conditioner had remained on for some time after the deaths. Police suspect that a chemical, possibly camphor, was used to suppress any odor, as no neighbors had reported anything unusual. Further investigations are underway to corroborate the doctor’s confession and establish a clear sequence of events.
Published – January 31, 2025 01:10 am IST