Situbondo Midwife's Murderer Identified as Husband, Motivated by Jealousy
The Criminal Investigation Unit of the Situbondo Resort Police, East Java, secured a suspect on Sunday involved in the murder of a midwife, who has been identified as the victim’s husband.
According to the Head of the Situbondo Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Assistant Commissioner Selimat, the suspect, identified by the initials ARH (32), is the husband of the victim, Murtafia Rafika Devi (34). The suspect surrendered himself to the East Java Regional Police after killing his wife and disposing of her body in a drainage ditch on the North Coast Road (Pantura) in Kalianget Village, Banyugembung District, on Saturday, 6 June 2026.
“We have secured the murder suspect, and he arrived at the Situbondo Resort Police on Sunday morning. The perpetrator is currently undergoing intensive interrogation in the general criminal investigation room,” Selimat stated in Situbondo on Sunday.
Preliminary investigations reveal that the suspect, ARH, admitted to killing his wife due to jealousy and resentment towards the victim, who worked at the Besuki Regional General Hospital (RSUD Besuki) in Situbondo. However, the police are still investigating the deeper motives behind the perpetrator’s actions.
“Although the suspect claims to have committed the murder of his wife due to jealousy and resentment, we are continuing our in-depth investigation,” Selimat added.
From the crime scene, police have seized evidence including a stone used by the suspect to kill his wife before disposing of the body in the drainage system along the western Pantura route in Situbondo.
“In addition to securing the evidence, we have also taken statements from witnesses and are awaiting autopsy results to determine the exact cause of death,” said Selimat.
Previously, on Saturday night (6/6), the Inafis Team of the Situbondo Police Criminal Investigation Unit conducted a crime scene investigation regarding the suspected murder of the midwife, whose body was discovered in a drainage ditch on the North Coast Road, Kalianget Village, Banyugembung District. The victim was identified as Murtafia Rafika Devi (34), a resident of Besuki Village, Besuki District, Situbondo Regency.