American tourist found dead in Angeles

ANGELES CITY — A 41-year-old American tourist was found dead in his rented apartment in Barangay Balibago here last Friday morning, his head bashed in and his body soaked in blood, police said.

But Inspector Luisito Tan, of the police Kababayan Center No. 42, said there was so far no evidence of foul play in the death of James Nehring.

Nehring had rented an apartment in the Peterman compound along Vian street in Barangay Balibago. His brother, Thomas, 45, lived a few doors away.

James’ body was found after an electrician in the compound, a certain Noli, noticed drops of blood outside the victim’s front door. Thomas had asked the electrician to get parts of his water heater from James.

The electrician immediately informed Thomas about what he saw. Thomas had to forcibly open the door of his brother’s apartment because the front and back doors were both locked.

According to Tan, Thomas found blood gushing from his brother’s head. Thomas told probers that he tried to revive his brother but failing to do so, he decided to phone the police.

The city police waited for scene-of-the-crime operatives dispatched by Chief Superintendent Vidal Querol, Central Luzon police director, before James’ body was brought to the Galang funeral parlor in Mabalacat town.

Thomas told probers that his brother used to live by himself in Carmenville Subdivision here and that, upon his prodding, he moved to the Peterman compound last Thursday, a day before he was found dead.

Thomas said his brother had been suffering from an ailment that weakened his knees and that in at least two occasions in his former home, he banged his head against the wall supposedly because of a severe headache.

Thomas said his brother apparently acquired the ailment during his stint as a machine operator in Thailand.

On Thursday night, the two brothers reportedly went bar-hopping on Fields Avenue.

Richard Cruz, a security guard in the Peterman compound, said the two brothers, both noticeably drunk, arrived at about 11:30 p.m.

Cruz said he even helped Thomas carry James to the latter’s apartment, after which he returned to his post. He said Thomas also went to his apartment, and that he had observed nothing unusual since then.