Probe into mistery death as Manning raises serious concern over recent killings

The Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary is investigating the mysterious deaths of two young children in Port Moresby.

Police Commissioner David Manning confirmed the investigation during a media briefing this afternoon.

The remains of the two missing children, aged 4 and 5, were discovered on May 2 in an abandoned vehicle in Gereka, just outside Port Moresby two months after they were last seen.

According to Commissioner Manning, the children were last seen in front of a shop between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m. on March 2, 2025.

Their bodies were discovered by a local resident who was cleaning the area and was alerted by a foul odor coming from the vehicle. Upon inspection, the bodies were found in the back seat.

A postmortem was conducted at Port Moresby General Hospital on May 6 to determine the cause of death.

Commissioner Manning said the Crimes Investigation Team is working around the clock to gather evidence and identify witnesses.

He also expressed grave concern over the increasing trend of child abuse in the country, citing a recent incident in Madang where a mother and daughter were assaulted in a supermarket over alleged shoplifting, and the tragic death of a 7-year-old girl in West New Britain.

Commissioner Manning condemned these acts as despicable and a betrayal of trust.

He urged parents and guardians to take their responsibilities seriously and reminded the public of the ‘Lukautim Pikinini Act’, which carries severe penalties for negligence and abuse.