Philippine police are investigating the death of a woman whose body was found inside a refrigerator at a rented apartment in Rizal province, on September 16, 2026, after the property owner smelled a foul odor coming from the unit and called authorities.
Investigators with the Philippine National Police (PNP) have named the woman’s live-in partner a person of interest. Accounts of his status have differed. Col. Allen Rae Co, spokesman for the PNP, told reporters at a press briefing that the man was in custody, while police also described a manhunt that was underway as of September 19, with authorities still searching for him as of September 21.
The woman’s name has not been publicly released. Police in the Philippines are investigating the death of a woman who was found inside her refrigerator. The partner remains a person of interest rather than a suspect facing charges.
A Lease That Was Never Signed
The couple began renting the unit in Barangay San Jose on September 9, according to police. The landlord has told investigators that their conversation that day was the last time the two spoke.
She returned on September 10 to have the lease contract signed, but no one came to the door. Neighbors told police the woman was alive that morning, when she took in a delivery at the unit. Over the following days, the landlord tried repeatedly to reach the occupants about the paperwork and got nothing back.
On September 16, she went back to the property and noticed a strong smell coming from the unit. Officers who responded found the woman’s body inside a refrigerator.
Marks on Her Neck and a Rope
Authorities said the woman had visible strangulation marks on her neck and that a rope was recovered from the scene. Early evidence suggested she may have been strangled, investigators said, but no final forensic finding on how she died has been made public.
By police estimates, roughly six to seven days had passed since her death by the time the landlord came upon the body. Investigators have said they are examining whether the refrigerator was used to slow decomposition and buy the person responsible more time to get away. So far that is only a working theory, and police have not publicly said who put the body in the appliance.
A Father Comes Forward
Rodriguez Police (RMP) put out a Facebook post on September 16, showing the unidentified woman and describing her appearance. Officers put her age at roughly 25 to 30.
The victim’s father saw the photograph circulating on social media and came forward with identification documents, police said. In an update on Friday, September 18, police said he had positively identified her remains. Her name has still not been released.
Confirming who she was has not been straightforward. ID cards were among the first items officers took from the apartment, but authorities went on to say the documents found at the scene did not match government records. Police said DNA testing was being arranged to formally confirm the identification.
An Outstanding Warrant and a Missing Partner
The man police want to talk to is already wanted on another matter. “The person of interest has an arrest warrant for serious illegal detention,” Co said. That warrant was not issued in connection with the woman’s death.
The woman faced the same serious illegal detention case and had recently returned home after posting bail, according to police. Authorities said they are looking at whether that earlier case had any bearing on her death, but no such link has been established publicly.
Money is another line of inquiry. Co said the woman’s father told investigators his daughter had been carrying a large amount of cash at the time. No figure has been publicly specified.
“The woman allegedly has money, according to the father, so most likely, they fought over the money or something,” Co told reporters. A financial motive has not been established and remains subject to verification.
Investigators have continued to piece together what happened inside the rented unit — who came and went, and what unfolded in the days between the morning of September 10, when neighbors saw the woman accept a delivery, and September 16, when the landlord’s call brought officers to the door. The case remains under investigation.