‘Voice from grave’ helps murder hunt

Press, 7 March 1978, Page 9

‘Voice from grave’ helps murder hunt

J NZPA-Reuter Chicago! !' ( A doctor who said he had heard a “voice from the grave” led the Chicago police to a man who has since been charged with the murder of the woman who “spoke.” the “Chicago Tribune” reported yesterday. Quoting court records, the newspaper said Dr Jose Chua had told the police that a voice identifying itself as Teresita Basa had entered the bodv of his wife, Remibias, last August. Miss Basa. aged 48, a resipiratorv specialist at Edge- ; water Hospital in Chicago, had been found dead and I naked, a butcher’s knife embedded in her chest, beneatha pile of smouldering clothes by firemen answering a call to her apartment on February 21, 1977. She was buried in her native Philippines. Dr Chua told the police I hat he had not known Miss Basa, but had later learned

| that his wife had worked with (her at the hospital. According to the court re-; cords quoted by the newspaper, the voice spoke in the national language of the Philippines and told Dr Chua that the murderer was Allen Showery The account said the voice had returned twice, throwing Mrs Chua’s body into a comatose state each time as it pleaded with Dr Chua to contact the police with the information. It also told of jewellery that had been stolen by the killer. The authorities said the jewellery had later been found and . used as evidence against! Showery, aged 31, of! i - Chicago. ;j A spokesman for state’s; attorney, Mr Bernard Carey I said the voice’s testimony would not be used in prose- ■ I cuting Showery. But the I spokesman said that the mur- >; der charge would jtot have ;!been placed if the voice had I! not led the police to him.