Unregistered Husband in Depok Kills Wife Over Hurt Feelings After Eviction and Economic Hardship
DEPOK, KOMPAS.com — Police have revealed the motive behind the murder of DH (56), a woman whose skeletal remains were found in her home in the Meruyung area of Limo, Depok.
Budi Hermanto, Head of Public Relations for the Metro Jaya Regional Police, stated that the suspect, who was the victim’s unregistered husband, ARH (44), had no employment and claimed to harbour resentment towards the victim.
“The suspect, who is known to have no job, felt hurt after being evicted from the house by the victim and then committed the act of murder,” Budi said when contacted by journalists on Monday, 9 March 2026.
Following the discovery of the victim’s remains on Saturday, 7 March 2026, police immediately pursued ARH. The suspect was eventually apprehended in the Jatimulya area, South Tambun, Bekasi Regency, on Sunday, 8 March 2026 in the afternoon.
Currently, the case remains under investigation by the General Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Metro Jaya Regional Police, with investigative proceedings ongoing.
Previously, the remains of DH were discovered inside her home in the Meruyung area of Limo, Depok, on Saturday morning. Upon discovery, the victim’s remains were already skeletal.
The victim was found in one of her son’s rooms, marked with the initial L, concealed beneath a pile of clothing and carpets on the floor.
Chairul Shaleh, Head of the Cinere Police District, explained that the discovery of the victim’s remains began when the victim’s child, L, along with his girlfriend R, came to the house to clean it.
They had previously been informed that the victim was travelling to Sukabumi, West Java.
“When they first arrived at the house, the gate door was locked with a padlock from the outside,” said Chairul when asked for confirmation on Monday, 9 March 2026.
“Witnesses also observed that room L contained a pile of clothing on the floor, and at that time they had no suspicions as they did not detect any unusual odour,” he stated.
On that day, L and R only cleaned the outer grounds of the house. They then returned to the house on Friday, 6 March 2026 at approximately 23.00 local time to continue the cleaning activities inside the house.
The two then spent the night in the living room. The following morning, R began cleaning one of the rooms and attempted to move the pile of clothing that had previously been observed.