American, wife, 3 others massacred in Pampanga

An American national and four members of his household were shot dead in what police suspected to be a robbery case in Angeles City in Pampanga Thursday noon, the local city police chief said. Angeles City police director Supt. Danilo Bautista identified the victims as Albert Mitchell, a retired US Air Force personnel, his Filipina wife Jeanette Androneda, househelpers Isabel Fajardo and Marissa Prado, and a certain Boy Vergara of Dau in Mabalacat town in Pampanga. The incident occurred at Mitchell’s house in Hensonville Court Subdivision in Malabanias village, at around 1:30 pm, Bautista said. Initial investigation showed that a man entered the subdivision at around 12 noon and went out carrying several items. Security guard Angelito Prado, brother of one of the victims, Marissa, discovered the bodies, which bore gunshot wounds from a 9-mm pistol. Prado told police he had asked a fellow guard not to allow the man to leave the subdivision while he checked on Mitchell’s house, just 50 meters away from the guardhouse, as he suspected something was wrong. Prado rushed back to the guardhouse after discovering the crime, but the suspect was already on board a tricycle. The suspect got off at the nearby Marisol village, according to the tricycle driver, but police authorities were unable to track him down. Police recovered on the scene a white sack containing some of Mitchell's belongings including a wallet, computer accessories, and a DVD player. According to Bautista, it appears that the victims knew the lone suspect as there were no signs of forced entry. “Scene of the crime operatives are presently conducting crime scene investigation. Manhunt operation is being conducted by our office," Bautista said.—JMA/JV, GMANews.TV