Elderly Woman in Banyumas Kills Husband to Marry Her Lover

A woman in Banyumas, Central Java, identified by the initials IY (61), has been named a suspect in the premeditated murder of her husband, EM (67). The killing occurred because IY intended to marry the man with whom she was having an affair.

Banyumas Police Chief, Commissioner Petrus Silalahi, revealed that the murder of EM took place at his home in Arcawinangun, East Purwokerto District, in the early hours of Saturday (27/6/2026), around 1.30 a.m. local time. EM was found with several bruises on his face and blood flowing from his ear.

IY subsequently informed several neighbours of EM’s death. “IY explained to the witnesses she summoned to her house that one of the victim’s motorcycles was missing. This was merely a ruse by the victim’s wife to make it appear as though a theft had occurred,” Petrus said during an interview on Tuesday (30/6/2026).

IY had asked her neighbours not to report her husband’s death to the police. However, one neighbour chose to report the matter. Police personnel eventually arrived at the scene and conducted an investigation.

They examined CCTV footage belonging to residents. The investigation then led officers to a hotel, which is suspected to be where EM’s killers were staying. “We then discovered that the victim’s Honda Vario motorcycle, which was reported missing, was not actually missing, but was handed over by the suspect, the victim’s wife, to the perpetrators,” Commissioner Petrus stated.