Team members from Marshall Security were shocked at what they saw at a gruesome crime scene in Morningside in Durban on Sunday.

An elderly man, who had been stabbed multiple times, was found dead in the lounge of his apartment.

To make matters worse, the deceased’s devastated family members – who all live with physical and mental disabilities and who lived with him – were in the apartment but unable to call for help.

Marshall Security spokesperson Tyron Powell says the company’s Emergency Dispatch Centre received an urgent call from a concerned client on Lambert Road, reporting multiple blood splatters on the exterior door and handle of one of the apartments.

The client reported that the occupant inside the apartment was unresponsive, and they feared that a murder had occurred, says Powell.

He says the man was deceased when the team arrived.

“Upon gaining entry into the apartment, our team was met with a gruesome sight. An elderly male, suffering from multiple stab wounds, was found in the lounge area in a tragic state, exhibiting no signs of life,” says Powell.

The relevant authorities were immediately called and the security team went through the apartment.

Powell says the deceased’s family members were at the apartment but were unable to call for help because they all live with physical and mental disabilities.

“A further examination of the apartment revealed family members who, due to severe ailments, physical incapacity and mental challenges, were incapable of calling for help.

“These individuals were in a state of profound shock and trauma. Trauma counsellors were informed to provide much-needed support to these individuals,” says Powell.

The murder scene was cordoned off for further processing by Berea SAPS.

At 17:00 on the same day, new information emerged regarding a suspect wanted in connection with the murder.

“It was revealed that the suspect had a personal connection to the deceased and had been living with the family, who were trying to help him overcome his drug addiction.”

The authorities tracked the suspect down to a drug house in Morningside.

“Acting on additional information about the suspect’s potential whereabouts, members of our Special Operations Team, working with the Berea SAPS Crime Prevention Unit, Berea SAPS Reservists, Durban K9 Unit, Metro Police K9 Unit and other private security companies, operationalised and descended on a well-known drug house on Harvey Road in the Morningside area.

“The operation resulted in the successful apprehension of the suspect. Items belonging to the deceased were recovered during the arrest,” says Powell.