The woman found dead at the seaside of South Road Properties (SRP) Road in Cebu City was already identified positively by members of her family.

City police believe she was killed in another place, and was later taken at SRP.

Members of her family went emotional upon finding her body in the morgue of a funeral homes along N. Bacalso Avenue past 1 p.m. on November 20, 2024.

The woman was identified to be Neca Denise Lagria, 22 years old, a resident of Barangay Yati, Liloan town in north Cebu.

Her family vouched the body belonged to Lagria because of her facial features, especially a distinct mole on her face. She was also identified through the work uniform she wore.

It was learned that Lagria works at a food establishment inside a mall in Barangay Basak, Mandaue City.

According to her sister, Lagria left Liloan at dawn on November 19, 2024 for a purported work meeting. Her father escorted her to an intersection while waiting for public transport.

However, she failed to come home that day.

The family learned that she was not able to report for work and when they tried to contact her, she could not be reached. 

Later, they learned from news reports and social media posts that a woman was found dead in Cebu City.

Lagria, according to her sister, has not had fought with anyone nor had received a death threat.

Lagria is the youngest of four siblings.

By the wound on her neck and blotches, police believe that she could have been choked to death.

The body was found face to the ground at a site near an outpost of sea patrollers in Cebu City. Members of the Bantay Dagat Commission in Cebu City said they did not notice of any commotion in the said spot. However, there were persons who noticed of a car that stopped in the vicinity at about 4 a.m.

When the authorities checked the area, there were indications on the sand that something was dragged.

Police further confirmed that the victim sustained a wound on her neck, and that the blotch could possibly be inflicted by strangulation.

Police Lt. Col. Antonietto Cañete, director of the Cebu City Police Office, said that the woman was killed possibly in another place and was dumped later at SRP.

Based on initial investigation of the police, a CCTV footage matched the statement of witnesses on a car that stopped in the vicinity of the spot where the woman was found.

Cañete said that they already have a person of interest but withheld information while investigation is going on.