Family seeks clarity on investigation into Mario’s murder

The family of 38-year-old Laurelle Mario, who was killed and her body dumped on Nancifield Road on August 24, has expressed frustration over the investigation’s slow pace.

The family accused the police of stalling the investigation.

They alleged that the investigating officer does not provide regular updates and that they have to contact him to obtain information about the case. They further accused him of delaying the Section 205 application to subpoena data from the cellphone service provider and tracker company.

ALSO READ: Man accused of Orlando East girlfriend’s murder denied bail

Mario’s close friend, Ruvain Lucas, and cousin, Taryn Davids, said she arrived home with the children on August 24 before leaving again at about 17:00.

“We are not aware of where she went. We are still trying to figure out where she went, and what exactly happened during the time she left home to when her lifeless body was found,” said Lucas.

According to the family, Mario’s daughter communicated with her and was told that she was on her way home. However, she never returned.

Her body was discovered at around 20:00 on the same day after a passerby and a security company spotted a body in Nancifield Road and alerted police.

ALSO READ: Eldorado Park child murder case postponed over legal conflict

The family members said both Mario’s vehicle and cellphone were stolen.

Her sister, Kesley Walker, stated that she contacted the vehicle tracking company, Cartrack, the next day to trace the vehicle after learning her sister had not returned home.

“They informed me that she’s within the vicinity. She’s not even 10km away from where they can locate through the tracking devices,” she added.

Walker claimed somebody called her from Mario’s cellphone at around 06:00 and assured her that Mario would reach home soon.

At that time, she did not know that her sister had already died.

ALSO READ: Two arrested after Uber driver robbed in Eldorado Park; one linked to attempted murder charges

She added that the tracking company later informed her that the main tracking device had been removed, but information from the backup device could not be shared without a case number.

A murder case was opened at Eldorado Park Police Station on August 25.

Walker mentioned that the family is worried about the progress of the investigation and communication from the investigating officer.

“I went to the SAPS headquarters to make a complaint this morning (September 14),” she said.

She claimed the investigating officer informed the family that a Section 205 request for the vehicle tracking information was hand-delivered to Cartrack, but upon checking with the department head at Cartrack, they had not received it.

“My problem is that should that document disappear, there will not be any trail. There should be emails confirming receipt of that document,” she said.

ALSO READ: Teen arrested for attempted murder in Eldorado Park

Walker is the registered owner of the vehicle used by Mario.

She claimed her insurer called to question her because there was very little information in the docket.

Walker also complained about the handling of CCTV footage, citing that the investigating officer told her there was a backlog at the lab and that she needed to be patient.

The family wants to know whether other investigative avenues have been followed, such as cellphone location data and tracking devices found in Eldorado Park.

They believe this information will help police establish where the car and cellphone were stolen.

They also asked whether CCTV footage had been properly investigated and whether the officer had viewed and processed it.

ALSO READ: Woman arrested for alleged murder of boyfriend in Meadowlands

Walker said they had lost hope in the investigation and were seeking to transfer the case away from Eldorado Park Police Station.

Eldorado Park police communications officer Sergeant Fezeka Khobo said the investigation into the murder case, registered as case 490/08/2026, was ongoing.

”We have applied for Section 205 and we are waiting for the results,” Khobo said.

“A Section 205 subpoena allows the institution which has been served to give the information within a certain period of time, and that is usually a month.”

“There are no witnesses and the information received from the family is dependent on Section 205 results.”

“It depends on the institution that the subpoena is served with, like with the cellphone, the IO was told to check on Thursday (September 17).”

Khobo also disputed the family’s concerns regarding communication, stating that the investigating officer had provided his contact numbers to the family and had communicated with Walker on several occasions. Police said not all information can be provided during the investigation stage.

Mario, who celebrated her 38th birthday on August 21, leaves behind a 12-year-old daughter.

The family said Mario was not street smart, and they cannot conclude that she was involved with the wrong people.

They described her as a quiet, friendly woman.

The family desperately wants to know what transpired from the time Mario disappeared until she was found dead.

Soweto Urban sent an inquiry to Cartrack and will publish the response once received.