Danish woman ‘strangled to death’

72-year-old Vera Bodil Engelbrecht Holm was strangled to death, the Police confirmed this evening.

Holm, who was found dead, naked and face down in a pool of water, had been missing for two days before she was found by a man in Wied il-Kappuccini, Rabat, Gozo.

The investigation, taken over by the homicide squad, had treated the case as suspicious death. Pathologists have today confirmed that “the cause of death of the deceased was one due to asphyxia by way of strangulation”.

“Investigations into this case are actively in progress and the police are once again appealing anyone who has information on this case to come forward or call on telephone numbers 119 or 2122 4001,” the Police said.

The Police commented that due to suspicious circumstances, the police was treating the case as a willful homicide.

Initial autopsy investigations had found that the woman suffered a broken rib and bruises to the head and chest. Holm's body was found to be at an advanced stage of decomposition, making the forensic investigation very tough. “The scorching summer heat and the environment accelerated the body’s decomposition. This has made it extremely hard for the forensic experts to close in on the cause of death who had to analyse further samples and carry out more tests."

Holm’s body was found naked in Wied il-Kappucini, facing down in a pool of water. None of her belongings - her handbag which contained a smartphone and €300 - were found.

Holm was on holiday in Gozo with her grandchildren, her son-in-law and his brother, when she was reported missing. The group arrived in Gozo on 19 July and were scheduled to go back home on 26 July. They were staying in Marsalforn.

Investigators will also have to figure out how Holm’s body ended up in the valley, 3km away from Marsalforn. Holm supposedly left the group to go shopping. The police were informed of her disappearance three hours after she separated from the group.

A man who was walking his dog in the valley found the body, two days after the woman was reported missing.

Her daughter came to Malta as soon as she was informed of Holm’s disappearance.