A local artist was killed, while her house helper was wounded, after they were attacked by a burglar at Purok 5 in Barangay Granada, Bacolod City, yesterday morning.

Police identified the fatality as Nunistell Mae Fulo, a former beauty queen and former dancer of Bayanihan, the national dance company of the Philippines. The wounded househelper was, meanwhile, identified as Mary Grace Muboda.

Police Station 5 (PS5) commander, Police Chief Inspector Sherlock Gabana, said the suspect, identified as 27-year-old Sandy Sevilla, initially climbed the fence of Fulo’s house around 1:00 a.m.

Sevilla was not able to enter the home due to the windows being protected by steel grills and was forced to hide in a comfort room located outside the house.

Around 6:00 a.m., Fulo entered the comfort room and found the suspect inside, prompting her to shout for help.

Sevilla allegedly pulled out a bladed weapon and stabbed Fulo 13 times.

The suspect then proceeded to stab Muboda twice, but she was able to flee the scene and called the neighbors for help, who proceeded to chase Sevilla, while others contacted PS5.

Fulo was rushed to the Bacolod Doctor’s Hospital, but was declared dead on arrival after succumbing to her wounds.

Muboda was sent to the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH), where she is now recovering.

PS5 operatives later arrested Sevilla at his residence in Hacienda Carmen, located in the said barangay.

In an interview following his arrest, Sevilla claimed he was desperate to find money after he was suspended from his job as security guard at an establishment at 18th-Lacson Streets and after his eight-month old daughter was admitted to the hospital due to a severe case of diarrhea.

Sevilla’s live-in partner, Darren Bernal, meanwhile, said the suspect left their house on Tuesday morning saying he would return soon.

Bernal said he became anxious after Sevilla failed to return home that evening, but when he arrived home Wednesday morning, he was surprised Sevilla claimed he tried to burglarize a house with two other suspects, one of whom was a resident of Victorias City.

Sevilla was not able to state other details as police arrived shortly after and arrested the suspect on the spot.

PS5 investigators are presently probing Bernal’s claim, that there were two other suspects in the burglary attempt, while Sevilla now faces charges of attempted robbery, homicide, and attempted homicide./DGB, WDJ