20-4-2024 (SINGAPORE) A heartbreaking incident has unfolded as Audrey Fang, a 39-year-old Singaporean woman embarking on a solo adventure in Spain, was tragically found dead with more than 30 stab wounds in the small town of Abanilla, approximately 150 kilometers away from her hotel. The shocking discovery has cast a dark shadow over what was supposed to be a cherished journey of self-discovery and exploration.
In the aftermath of Audrey’s disappearance, Spanish authorities swiftly launched an investigation, tracking down the vehicle that had picked her up and subsequently arresting a Singaporean man identified by Spanish media outlets as 43-year-old Mitchell Ong. The suspect appeared in court on Friday, where he was remanded in custody pending further investigations into this harrowing case.
Audrey Fang arrived in Spain on April 4th, with plans to return to Singapore on April 12th. However, her family and friends raised the alarm on April 10th when she became uncontactable and was reported missing. Her last known whereabouts traced back to the evening of April 9th, when she was seen leaving her luxury hotel in the town of Javea around 8:45 pm, leaving her belongings behind in her room.
Tragically, shortly after she was reported missing, a woman’s body bearing over 30 stab wounds was discovered near a parking area for lorries in the town of Abanilla, approximately 150 kilometers from Audrey’s hotel. The grim discovery was made by the chief inspector of the local police division while en route to a nearby restaurant for breakfast.
The Spanish Civil Guard, a national police force, revealed that Audrey had been picked up by a black car on April 9th. Closed-circuit camera footage released by the authorities showed the suspect’s vehicle in a car park, with Ong seen at a payment machine.
Further footage depicted investigators meticulously searching a hotel room and gathering evidence through photographs.
On April 16th, Ong was apprehended in Alicante, approximately 80 kilometers from Audrey’s hotel, in connection with her death. At the time of his arrest, authorities did not disclose the nature of his relationship with the victim.
Audrey’s family arrived in Spain on April 17th to identify the body, while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in Singapore stated that the country’s honorary consulate-general in Madrid had been in contact with local authorities regarding the case, providing consular assistance and support to the grieving family.
On April 19th, Ong was brought before a court in Murcia by two Spanish Civil Guard officers and was remanded in custody without bail as investigations continued. A preliminary autopsy report revealed that Audrey had suffered knife wounds and trauma to her head, ultimately causing her death.
Forensic teams collected the necessary samples, and authorities indicated that her body could be repatriated if the court authorized it. However, the motive behind the killing remained under investigation by the Spanish Civil Guard.
On April 20th, Spanish media outlets, including La Verdad de Murcia, La Opinión de Murcia, and Levante El Mercantil Valenciano, identified Ong by name or initials. According to Levante El Mercantil Valenciano, police have proven that both Audrey’s and Ong’s mobile phones were together in Abanilla on the day of her death. Reports also suggest that Audrey was not sexually assaulted and that she and the suspect had known each other for many years, with a possible “economic motive” speculated due to an alleged money transfer to an unidentified third party.
