Idukki,01 May (H.S.): The investigation into the sensational Nedumkandam double murder case has taken a new turn, with police intensifying efforts to trace the whereabouts of Mathew Thomas, the husband of one of the victims, Marykutty, who has been missing since 2018.

According to police records, Mathew Thomas, a pastor, went missing on March 3, 2018. He had been living with his wife Marykutty and their children—Reji, Saji, and their differently-abled youngest daughter Jiji. On the day he disappeared, Mathew reportedly told his family that he was heading to Vellayamkudy near Kattappana for Jiji’s medical treatment. However, he never returned.

A missing person complaint was filed by his elder son Reji on March 9, 2018, following which police registered a case and carried out an initial investigation. Authorities had gathered information suggesting that Mathew was seen boarding a bus from Nedumkandam. However, despite examining CCTV footage, investigators were unable to trace his movements further. With no conclusive leads, the probe was eventually kept in abeyance.

The case has now resurfaced following the shocking revelation that Marykutty and her elder son Reji were allegedly murdered by her younger son Saji. With this development, relatives and local residents have demanded a thorough reinvestigation into Mathew’s disappearance, suspecting a possible link between the incidents.

Police officials say they plan to take Saji, who is currently in judicial remand, into custody for detailed interrogation. Investigators believe that questioning him could provide crucial insights into both the double murder and the mysterious disappearance of Mathew Thomas.

The renewed probe aims to uncover whether the missing pastor’s case is connected to the recent killings, raising serious questions about the events that unfolded within the family over the years.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman