Davantes murder

NBI nabs suspect in Davantes murder

• View PhotoAnother person in Kae Davantes' car, police say
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  NBI helping Police with probe into Kae Davantes' killingANC  1:54
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  CCTV footage shows Davantes' car at SLEXANC  1:55

A suspect in the killing of advertising executive Kae Davantes has been taken into the custody of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) late Friday night.

The suspect was identified as Samuel Decimo, 19 years old and a member of a holdup gang.

Decimo has admitted to killing Davantes together with at least 5 other suspects.
Decimo said they were onboard a vehicle and spotted Davantes’ car with the intention to rob the driver. They followed then waylaid Davantes at knifepoint inside her subdivision in Las Piñas. The suspects then commandeered her vehicle and drove in the direction of Tagaytay.

Decimo said they decided to kill her after she recognized one of the suspects and the license plate of the suspects’ vehicle. The idea to burn Davantes’ car was made by one of his cohorts, Decimo said.

The suspect and his cohorts held up a jeepney in Cavite Thursday night, which led NBI investigators to the suspect.

Recovered from the suspect was a knife, but the NBI refused to say if this was the weapon used to kill Davantes.

The NBI said Decimo described how he strangled Davantes and how he shut his eyes while stabbing Davantes.

The suspect also said he did not hide after news of the killing was reported, but that he became nervous.

According to Virgilio Mendez deputy chief of operations of the NBI, Decimo said he was willing to help the agency get the other suspects in the case. “Hopefully, we can get the other suspects…We have plenty of work to do tomorrow.”
Authorities are set to search a home in Las Piñas City where Decimo claimed the car of Davantes was brought and hidden.
Vincent Davantes, an uncle of Kae, expressed hope that the arrest of Decimo would lead to a conviction and justice for their loved one.
"The Davantes family is thankful that an arrest has been made. This represents half of our pursuit for justice. We hope and pray that this development will result in the eventual conviction when the matter is presented in the court of justice," Vincent told ABS-CBN in a text message.