Sunday, July 5, 2009

'History' of family violence: Police believe man killed girlfriend, teen

July 4, 2009



By Bernice Santiago
Pacific Daily News bsantiago@guampdn.com

The Dededo couple involved in what police now classify as a "double homicide-suicide" had a record of domestic violence during their relationship, according to the Guam Police Department.

GPD spokesman Officer Allan Guzman said in a news release yesterday that Anthony Blas Miner, 39, and his girlfriend, Rachel D. Babauta, 30, had "a long history of documented and unreported family violence."

Their bodies, along with that of Babauta's 13-year-old daughter, Teresita G. Chiguina, were found at their residence on Wusstig Road in Dededo Thursday morning.

It was the first and second homicide cases this year.

According to Guzman, police believe Miner killed Babauta and her daughter before turning on himself.

Guam Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Aurelio Espinola, who performed the autopsies on the body, said Thursday that Miner struck Babauta and the girl with a baseball bat before committing suicide by slitting his left wrist.

Yesterday, Espinola said Babauta and Chiguina may have died late afternoon or early evening of Wednesday. The two victims died of blunt force trauma to the head.

Miner died hours later, Espinola said.

The investigation began after police patrol officers and Guam Fire Department personnel responded to a phone call of an injured person at the Dededo home, Guzman said in the release. The responding officers found the three bodies in a bedroom of the house.

Investigators and forensic experts also responded to the scene. Family members, friends and acquaintances were interviewed throughout Thursday.

Guzman said the case is expected to be closed within the next couple of days.

According to Pacific Daily News files, Miner was arrested three years ago in connection with a disturbance at Micronesia Mall and illegal drug charges.

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