By ‘Mantoetse Maama

MASERU — A veterinary doctor and businesswoman, Ntatoleng Lebajoa, found dead on Sunday morning in Khubetsoana is suspected to have been strangled to death.

Lebajoa, whose corpse was found in her car abandoned near the Ngoana oa lla Cemetery in Khubetsoana, ran a successful poultry project.

Police spokesperson, Thato Ramarikhoane, confirmed that a 57-year-old woman was found dead in her car at Ngoana-oa-lla on Sunday morning.

“The woman’s corpse was found in her car, a Mercedes Benz, near the graveyard. Her face was covered with a cloth. When she was uncovered she had some scratches on her neck. It seemed like she had a nosebleed,” Ramarikhoana said.

“It is suspected that she had been strangled but we are still investigating. We also suspect that she was not driving the car as she was sitting in the back seat. She did not have external injuries,” Ramarikhoane said.

Ramarikhoane said when they went to her house there were no signs of forced entry.

“It looked like she was pulled from her house to the car as there was a trail from the house to that car,” he said.

The garage door was slightly opened and the other door was not locked, Ramarikhoane said.

“We plead with members of the community to help us with information that will lead to the arrest of the suspects,” he said.

Police are still investigating, Ramarikhoane said.

Meanwhile ‘Mapaballo Ranthona, the deceased’s sister said her sibling’s death has come as a shock to the family.

Ranthona, who stays in Matelile in the Mafeteng district, said she received the news on Sunday afternoon from her other sibling.

“When I heard that my sister was found dead I was very shocked and could not believe it was true. I only started to believe the news after meeting the police who explained to us how she was found,” Ranthona said.

“We came through the garage door as the other doors were still locked. The inside door from the garage to the house was not locked,” she said.

“It seemed like she was already asleep as her blankets were moved to the other side on her bed. There was a trail from her bedroom to the garage where we suspect the car was parked.”

“Neighbours said they did not hear anything but they saw the car moving out of the yard at around 12pm but never suspected anything.”

The gate was still closed though it was not locked and no one could suspect anything, she added.

Ranthona said they found the deceased’s clothes scattered all over her bedroom.

“My sister was staying alone. It looks like whoever did this had been watching her for some time. We hope her murderers will be arrested soon as she did not deserve to die this way,” Ranthona said.