Summary
Highlights
Months later, a minor named Jerry came forward as a witness, claiming Emak, Andrei, and Pandak invited him to drink and use drugs that night. Jerry stated that the group later entered Liezel's home through the back, climbing over a fence to avoid detection. Another witness, Ador, recounted one of the suspects drunkenly bragging about killing someone and hiding the body under a bed. Ador confirmed Emak's group was involved and that their original intention was rape, with one member having a strong desire for Liezel. Emak allegedly detailed how they watched Liezel bathe, then attacked her in her room, covering her with a pillow and strangling her when she fought back, to prevent her from alerting neighbors.
Police pieced together that the suspects had waited inside Liezel's home after she had gone outside to use the detached bathroom. They attacked her upon her return, intending to rape and rob her. Liezel's struggle, evidenced by the scratches on Emak (Raymart Betita), likely prevented the sexual assault, but led to her being silenced permanently. Liezel had previously expressed feeling watched when using the bathroom. Charges of robbery with homicide were filed against Emak, Andrei, and Pandak. A warrant for Emak and Andrei's arrest was issued in 2020, and they were eventually captured. Though they refused to speak, Liezel's family and Mel remain committed to fighting for justice, emphasizing their gratitude for Liezel's love and the importance of ensuring everyone's right to safety in their own homes.
Mel, Liezel Navia's partner, fondly remembers her as thoughtful, caring, and nurturing. They even had plans for an LGBT ceremony. On the night of April 10, 2016, Liezel arrived home, a routine Mel was accustomed to. However, when Mel returned home at 6 AM the next day, Liezel was not there to greet him. A growing sense of dread enveloped him as he entered their apartment.
After finding nothing amiss initially, Mel's concern grew when Liezel didn't respond to his texts. He noticed the bedsheets had been changed, which he knew he had just done. Upon turning on the light, he discovered his favorite pillow soaked in blood and the missing bedsheet wrapped around Liezel's lifeless body under the bed. He screamed for help, questioning who could have committed such a brutal act.
The Bulihan, Cavite PNP immediately launched an investigation. Police Chief Master Sergeant Glen Soriano described the scene: nothing appeared out of place until they looked under the bed. Liezel's unclothed body was found wrapped in a bedsheet, with a handkerchief tightly bound around her neck. The autopsy confirmed death by asphyxia due to strangulation, with traumatic injuries and bruises found on her body. Human skin tissue was also discovered under her fingernails, suggesting a struggle, but no signs of sexual assault were present.
Liezel's family, especially her mother Aling Liza, was devastated by the news. Aling Liza mourned the loss of her beloved daughter, remembering her as the first to wish them well on special occasions. Mel also shared his deep love for Liezel and their plans to marry. Investigators noted missing items from Liezel's home, including cellphones, a portable speaker, and cash, leading them to suspect robbery and attempted sexual assault as motives. Mel recalled a group drinking outside their home, highlighting Emak, one of the drinkers, as someone who had looked at him strangely.