Elderly pair die in fiery suicide
2008-09-01 14:19
Pretoria - An elderly Pretoria couple have died in an apparent suicide pact at the Bon Accord Dam in Pretoria, police said on Monday.
Fishermen called police when they saw a car burning fiercely at the dam, said Captain Prince Mokhabela.
By the time police arrived at the scene, the Toyota Tazz was completely gutted. Inside it was a body burnt beyond all recognition.
"We couldn't even tell if it was a female or male," he said.
Investigators established that the car belonged to an 88-year-old man in Pretoria North and went to the house where they found a suicide note.
"We cannot divulge the contents of the suicide note," he said, revealing only that the couple were experiencing problems.
Police divers searched the dam the next day, but found nothing.
Body in the water
However, when detectives returned at 07.30 on Monday, they found an elderly man's body floating in the water.
Although the results of forensics tests had not yet been finalised, it was presumed the body discovered in the car was that of his 79-year-old wife.
Mokhabela said police were still waiting for the couple's family to identify them.
- SAPA