I. THE GOLDEN CHILD AND THE ENVIOUS AUNT

Are you caught up in the “Gold Hype”? With the rising price of gold, many are blinded by its value. In our story today, we discuss a woman whose obsession with gold led her to commit a crime against an innocent child—her own niece.

The case occurred in Sulawesi Utara, Indonesia, in 2024. Tilfa Azahra “Sarah” Mokoagow (8) lived a comfortable, love-filled life with her parents. Her father was a civil servant, and her mother was a devoted housewife.

Sarah was their only child, treated like gold herself. Her parents frequently gifted her gold jewelry—necklaces, bracelets, and rings—which she wore daily. Sarah was a smart student and often went to a nearby place to study the Quran after school.

She frequently visited her aunt, Arnita “Nita” Mamonto (19), who lived nearby. Sarah was close to Nita, often calling her “Nanay” (Mother) due to the care Nita showed her. However, Nita’s life was starkly different. Her husband worked at a water refilling station, and they struggled financially.

Deep inside Nita grew a dark desire for a lavish lifestyle. Her husband’s income wasn’t enough for the things she wanted. Driven by envy, Nita had already begun stealing small items, like clothes from neighbors’ clotheslines.

In December 2023, Nita’s obsession intensified when she noticed the glimmering gold jewelry Sarah always wore. The child’s accessories fueled Nita’s thirst for wealth. She began plotting to steal the jewelry, waiting for moments when her husband was at work.

II. THE LURE AND THE COCONUT PLANTATION

Nita tried several times to steal the jewelry without getting caught, fearing she would be the prime suspect. She even asked Sarah to remove the jewelry while playing, but Sarah refused, citing her parents’ instructions. As days passed, Nita’s greed turned into a lethal plan.

On January 15, 2024, seeing Sarah wearing the gold, Nita decided she would not just steal, but end the child’s life to ensure there were no witnesses. She prepared a large kitchen knife, sharpening it to ensure the deed would be done quickly. She meticulously planned the route and her alibi.

She told her husband a fake story: she was going to borrow money from her father to buy a new smartphone. This was to explain the sudden presence of a new phone if her plan succeeded.

On Thursday, January 18, 2024, around 11:00 AM, Nita spotted Sarah alone at her grandmother’s house. Nita approached the child with a smile, inviting her to come along. Trusting her “Nanay,” Sarah held her aunt’s hand, unaware it would cost her life.

Nita took Sarah to her house, telling her to wait while she dropped off her own child. Secretly, Nita retrieved the knife. She then asked Sarah to help her pick vegetables in the garden. They walked out the back, avoiding neighbors, and headed toward a secluded coconut plantation.

Once far enough away, Sarah complained she was tired of walking. Nita seized the moment. She pushed Sarah to the ground. She covered the child’s mouth to stifle her screams and stabbed her defenseless niece.

III. THE SHOPPING SPREE AND THE FAKE TEARS

With the deed done, Nita stripped the gold necklace, bracelets, and rings from Sarah’s body. Her eyes glittered like the gold she now held. She dumped Sarah’s body in a dry ditch and left the knife nearby.

Nita walked home calmly, avoiding noise. Upon arriving, she washed her face and changed her bloodstained clothes, hiding them in the laundry. Then, chillingly, she performed her prayers, acting as if she had done nothing wrong.

That same afternoon, Nita picked up her child and went to a pawnshop. She sold Sarah’s jewelry for Php 69,000. Immediately, she bought a gold ring for herself (Php 20,000) and a new smartphone (Php 20,000).

She continued her shopping spree, buying daily necessities like diapers, milk, and chocolates for her child using the blood money. Meanwhile, Sarah’s parents panicked when she didn’t return for her Quran studies. The entire neighborhood mobilized to search.

Nita joined the search, feigning extreme worry. She shared “Missing Person” posts on social media and cried alongside the family. However, the Village Chief noticed something was off.

When questioned, Nita claimed Sarah had visited her but left with friends. The Chief noticed Nita was trembling, her voice weak, and her posture hunched—signs of a hidden secret. Neighbors also felt something was wrong with her behavior.

IV. THE DISCOVERY AND THE DEATH PENALTY

The next day, Sarah’s family officially reported her missing to the police. Around 8:00 PM, residents found Sarah’s body in the dry ditch at the plantation. The jewelry was missing. The community was engulfed in horror.

At the health center, while Sarah’s parents wailed in grief, Nita was there, covering her face and crying, pretending to be a victim. Police investigators quickly focused on the missing jewelry. They checked local gold shops. A teller confirmed a woman with a child had sold jewelry without a certificate.

Police reviewed the shop’s CCTV (which was not released publicly) and identified Nita selling Sarah’s jewelry. Nita was arrested at her home. Her husband was shocked to learn his wife was the suspect. Confronted with the CCTV evidence and the bloodstained clothes found in her home, Nita confessed.

She admitted she ended her niece’s life to get the gold, buy a smartphone, and live a lavish life. Police recovered the phone, remaining cash, and jewelry from her. She was charged with Premeditated Murder and Theft.

During a reenactment, the public and Sarah’s family screamed at Nita in rage. In November 2024, the court found her guilty. Due to the heinous nature of killing a child for greed, Nita was sentenced to Death.

She appealed, but in February 2025, the court upheld the Death Sentence. This crime against an innocent child serves as a brutal reminder that love and trust can be weaponized by those poisoned by greed.