Authorities in Cambodia were attempting to identify the remains of a pregnant girl whose burned body was found at a remote construction site in the capital Phnom Penh.
This was made known by an investigator and local media on Tuesday.
An autopsy of the remains ‘confirmed that the victim was already deceased prior to being burnt,’ said James McCabe, operations director of the Child Protection Unit (CPU).
CPU is a police division supported by the non governmental Cambodian Children’s Fund.
DNA testing of a blood sample from the body showed the victim was a female between 12 and 17 years old, McCabe said.
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The Phnom Penh municipal military police said the victim, who was eight weeks pregnant, had been strangled to death, the Phnom Penh Post reported citing autopsy results.
The body was burned ‘beyond recognition’ to destroy evidence, according to the Post.
Witnesses told police that they had seen a vehicle in the vicinity of where the girl’s body was found on Saturday evening and that when passing the location later they saw the burning remains, McCabe said.
He declined to comment when asked if authorities had identified possible suspects or found a motive, saying the investigation was ongoing.
The CPU on Sunday shared photographs of a piece of gold painted jewellery recovered from the crime scene and asked the public for help in identifying the victim. (NAN)