Teenager confesses to missing Wentworth woman’s murder

A 19-year-old man handed himself in at Wentworth police station after confessing to the murder of a missing woman.

Melissa Dedericks (39) was reported missing by her family at Wentworth SAPS on Sunday, March 21.

According to the Wentworth SAPS spokesman, Cpt Mbuso Gumede, the suspect arrived at the police station at around 12 noon on Wednesday, March 24, to confess to the murder he had committed. He also informed the officers that he had buried the woman’s body in a shallow grave in her backyard.

“The police officer, who the crime had been reported to, arranged for VISPOL members and the detectives, who were on call, to attend to the scene of the murder in Engelbrecht Road in Wentworth,” said Cpt Gumede.

The detectives called for the SAPS Search and Rescue Unit and the Dog Unit, and together with the assistance of these officers, the deceased’s body was exhumed from the shallow grave.

The body was taken to the government mortuary.

The motive for the woman’s murder is unknown at this stage. The suspect has been detained for murder and an investigation is pending.