The evil killer of an Aussie couple and their daughter-in-law spent five hours in their Philippine hotel room after entering in the middle of the night using a swipe card.
Police are now attempting to establish what happened inside the murder room during the mystery hours before the victims were found dead by hotel staff.
Sydney businessman David Fisk, 57, his wife Lucita Barquin Cortez, 55, and their Filipino daughter-in-law Mary Jane Cortez, 30, were all killed.
Now Ms Cortez’s son has gone into hiding fearing for his own safety in the wake of the triple tragedy.
The killer was caught on CCTV letting himself into Room 103 at the Lakes Hotel in Tagaytay, south of Manila, around 1am before sneaking away after the brutal attack around 6am on July 10.
The three were found dead by staff later that day, with their hands and feet bound by electrical cords and shoelaces, and their mouths gagged with packaging tape.
Philippines police said an autopsy report revealed the two women died of asphyxia, while Mr Fisk had a wound to his neck.
Lucita’s son, who has four children with wife Mary Jane Cortez and whose initials are RCJ, has retreated under an assumed name as police continue their investigations.
The male suspect caught on CCTV is described as being 5’4 to 5’6 (162-167cm) tall and of medium build.
It was later revealed a security guard saw the suspect enter the hotel and asked him where he was going, and the man replied that he was going to Room 103.
He was wearing a black hoodie, maroon shorts, Adidas runners and carrying an Adidas brand backpack.
The murder scene was discovered on Wednesday when hotel worker Allan Manza was sent up to the room at 12.30pm to remind the Aussies about their check-out time. He made the grisly find.
RCJ, who lives in Calapan City, on Oriental Mindoro, four hours drive away, said David and Lucita had arrived at Tagaytay on July 8 at the end of their annual holiday to the Philippines.
The Lake Hotel has spectacular views of the volcanic caldera Lake Taal, and the couple hired a minivan with a driver to tour the area with several Philippine family members.
After taking photographs and finishing the drive, the other family members departed, leaving Mr Fisk, Ms Cortez and Mary Jane at the hotel for the evening.
Police reported that some possessions may have been stolen, but it is believed other valuables and mobile phones were still in the room.
RCJ, who has four children aged four to 12 years with Mary Jane, spoke with police before he signed morgue release forms for the three bodies of his relatives.
He has now returned to Oriental Mindoro as police focus on identifying the ‘person of interest’ seen in the CCTV vision.
Police have formed a special task force and are now investigating the possibility that there could be two suspects in the murders.
One of Lucita Cortez’s relatives in , Raquel Cortez posted on Facebook: ‘Justice for you Lucy, David and Ejane. I will miss our wanderings’.
The Philippine Embassy in Canberra condemned the brutal murders extended their deepest condolences to the families of the victims.
‘The Philippine government condemns in the strongest terms the cowardly and senseless act that took the couple from their loved ones,’ and embassy statement read.
‘We stand in solidarity with the n government in our joint efforts to bring the perpetrator to justice.’
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