- Decomposed body of a 53-year-old man found in borehole at Maphane cattlepost
Police are yet to make a breakthrough in a suspected murder case involving a 53-year-old man whose decomposed body was found in a borehole at his cattlepost in Maphane, on the outskirts of Maun.
According to Maun Police Station Commander Superintendent Joseph Lepodise, the deceased was last seen alive on the 13th of August when he visited a neighbour at a nearby cattlepost to charge his cellphone. The neighbour, a 52-year-old man, reported that after several days of not seeing the deceased, who was to have collected his cellphone, he became concerned. He then decided to take the cellphone to Maun where the deceased’s family resides. Upon his arrival, the family confirmed that they had not seen or heard from him since the 13th.
Worried about his wellbeing, family members proceeded to his cattlepost to conduct a search later that day. While searching, they noticed a foul smell coming from the side of the borehole nearby. Using torches, they looked inside the borehole and spotted a reflector jacket at the bottom. Upon closer inspection, they realised it was the missing man’s body.
Superintendent Lepodise said the matter was immediately reported to the police, who rushed to the scene and carried out the recovery operation. Due to the advanced state of the body’s decomposition, a pathologist was called to the scene to perform a post-mortem examination.
Lepodise said the initial findings revealed that the deceased had sustained serious injuries consistent with blunt force trauma. He had been struck on the head and chest, leading authorities to suspect foul play. Investigators believe he was attacked and then disposed of in the borehole to conceal the crime.
The deceased’s body was taken to Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital where a medical doctor instructed that he should be burried the following day due to its bad state.
Police said the deceased’s car was later found abandoned in the
Thamalakane River in Sedie ward just behind Alfa lodge on the same day his body was recovered. They suspect a possible link between the abandoned vehicle and the suspects believed to be on the run.
Lepodise say they are treating the case as murder and have launched a full investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the death and also to identify any possible suspects.
Maun Police have since appealed to members of the public, especially those from surrounding cattle posts, to come forward with any information that may assist with the case. They also urged community members to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity.
At the time of reporting, Superintendent Lepodise said no arrests had been made, and investigations are still ongoing. The tragic incident has shocked residents of Maphane and surrounding areas.
