Father finds daughter dead in car

CEBU, Philippines - A woman in her 40s and a wife of an American national was found dead inside her car with a bleeding nose and a .38 caliber revolver on her lap early morning yesterday in Barangay Pajo, Lapu-Lapu City.

Lynette Tagimacruz Stone was discovered by her father, Edgar, who noticed her car parked outside their residence.

Stone was believed to have committed suicide as she was having personal problems with her husband and she is also facing a frustrated homicide complaint at the Mandaue City Prosecutor’s Office . The police are yet to check the details of her frustrated homicide case.

Edgar said that Stone was supposed to buy bread for breakfast early morning yesterday.

Then, he noticed that her daughter parked her car at the roadside but did not get off.

At first he thought that she was sleeping but later on, he decided to check and the car doors were locked.

When he peeped through the tinted window, he noticed that blood was oozing from her nose.

Edgar immediately got the duplicate key to the car, opened it and found out that he daughter was already dead.

He informed the other members of the family and they called the police.

Stone was brought to Lapu-Lapu City Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Found in the car were her laptop, cellular phone, a Smith and Wesson .38 caliber revolver with five ammunition, an unconsumed bottle of hard liquor and a bottled water.

Police suspect that Stone committed suicide by putting the barrel of the gun in  her mouth.

As of press time, Dr. Nestor Satur of the PNP Crime Laboratory was still conducting an autopsy  while the gun found in her lap will be subjected to a ballistic examination . —/MBG (FREEMAN)