The arrival of the holiday season in Camarines Sur, Philippines, was brutally overshadowed by a tragedy that shattered the de Vina Gracia family.

Just days before Christmas, the bodies of two sisters—Clodette Jane (27) and Kiela (25)—were discovered, both having sustained numerous stab and incised wounds across their bodies. Clodette Jane was employed at a local mall, and Kiela was a dedicated agriculture student just months away from graduation.

The ensuing investigation quickly identified the primary suspect as Murphy Hofancia (35), Clodette Jane’s live-in partner, who vanished immediately following the incident.

This exhaustive analysis details the meticulous discovery of the two crime scenes, the strong circumstantial evidence and a chilling written confession that implicated Hofancia, and the profound tragedy of a crime of passion rooted in possessiveness and a refusal to accept a relationship’s end.

The investigation moved rapidly, leading to the discovery of a body believed to be the suspect’s, setting the stage for a complex legal and emotional reckoning for the grieving community and family.

The Discovery of the Double Tragedy

On December 7, 2025, at 6:00 AM, officers from Station 2 of the Naga City Police received a call regarding the discovery of a female body in Barangay Concepcion Pequena. A police team, accompanied by Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO), immediately proceeded to the location, encountering cold, wet conditions following heavy overnight rain.

Near a subdivision in Concepcion Pequena, the team discovered a horrifying scene: a female body lying face down in the grass at the roadside. The victim was soaked and covered in her own blood, bearing multiple stab and incised wounds, with one of her arms sustaining severe injuries.

The victim was identified as Clodette Jane de Vina Gracia (27), who rented a place nearby. Local residents informed the police that Clodette Jane worked at a nearby mall (SM) and was frequently seen with her live-in partner and her younger sister.

As SOCO processed the extensive crime scene, investigators noted a significant absence: no family members had arrived, despite the victim’s proximity to her rented residence. This unusual silence prompted the team to visit the victim’s rental house as part of their standard procedure.

They arrived at the blue-gated house in Zone 1, Barangay Concepcion Pequena, and attempted to call and knock, but received no response from inside. The team decided to enter, noticing scattered belongings outside the gate.

Upon entering the house, they initially found no one, but upon forcing their way into one of the rooms, they made a second, equally disturbing discovery. They found the body of a second female, later identified as Kiela de Vina Gracia (25), Clodette Jane’s younger sister.

Kiela’s body was meticulously wrapped in a white and blue bedsheet, which had been secured tightly with an electric wire. Like her older sister, Kiela’s body displayed multiple deep stab and incised wounds across various parts of her body.

The sisters were originally from Barangay Cutmo, San Fernando, Camarines Sur, where their family was known to be quiet and respected. Kiela was a dedicated student at the Central Bicol State University, pursuing an agriculture degree, and was just months away from graduation.

The sisters shared a close bond; Kiela lived with Clodette Jane in Naga City to save commuting costs, where Clodette Jane had moved with her live-in partner, Murphy Hofancia (35), an IT professional.

The Crime of Passion and The Vanished Suspect

The discovery of the two victims immediately raised the question: Where was Murphy Hofancia? The nature of the wounds and the double fatality suggested the incident occurred on the night of December 6, 2025.

Police began interviewing residents near the rental house, but the heavy rainfall on the night of December 6 meant the streets were empty, and no one witnessed the commotion, though some residents recalled hearing the couple arguing recently.

Investigators recovered crucial physical evidence from the crime scene, including two projectile-stained knives, believed to be the instruments used in the brutal assault. Circumstantial evidence quickly accumulated, focusing the investigation intensely on the missing partner.

The investigation uncovered a critical piece of audio evidence from a nearby security camera footage. Although the video was too distant to capture faces, the audio clearly recorded Clodette Jane screaming the name of her live-in partner, Murphy, around 11:00 PM on the night of December 6.

This audio evidence, coupled with Hofancia’s immediate disappearance, was sufficient for the Police Regional Office 5 to issue a full-scale manhunt, designating Murphy Hofancia as the prime suspect.

The police quickly established the primary motive as a crime of passion (due to relationship termination). They learned that Clodette Jane and Murphy had been embroiled in a bitter dispute leading up to the incident.

Further suspicion mounted when investigators recovered a social media post made by Murphy Hofancia just hours before the estimated time of the incident, containing the cryptic and definitive statement: “It’s Over.”

A devastating account from one of the victims’ sisters revealed another disturbing dimension to the case: she claimed Murphy Hofancia had previously subjected her to inappropriate conduct, adding a layer of moral corruption to the suspect’s profile.

The working theory developed by the PNP was chilling: Murphy may have first assaulted the younger sister, Kiela, who was at home. Fearing that Clodette Jane would discover Kiela’s condition upon returning from work, Murphy made the fatal decision to assault Clodette Jane as well, ensuring his secret would not be exposed.

The Confession and the Ultimate Finding

The search for Murphy Hofancia reached a critical turning point when the suspect’s own older brother revealed a private message received from Murphy. In the message, Murphy confessed to causing the loss of life of both sisters and explicitly stated his motives.

Murphy stated that Clodette Jane was determined to terminate their relationship. Despite his attempts to reconcile, her decision was final, leading him to commit the fatal act.

In the message, he asked his brother to care for his two children (presumably from a previous relationship) and hinted at his own imminent passing. The brother immediately cooperated with the authorities, and a public plea was issued by Murphy’s younger sister, tearfully apologizing to the de Vina Gracia family and promising full cooperation in locating him.

On December 9, amidst the intense manhunt, a body was discovered on the coast of Barangay Castillo, Cabusao, Camarines Sur. The body, found in an advanced decomposition stage, was difficult to identify visually.

However, the Hofancia family strongly suspected the identity: the body was clothed in a black polo shirt and wore an engagement ring that they recognized as belonging to Murphy. The remains were immediately submitted for DNA testing to confirm the identity, bringing a temporary pause to the manhunt.

The remains of Clodette Jane and Kiela de Vina Gracia were returned to their hometown and laid to rest at the San Fernando Church, leaving their family and community to face a sorrowful Christmas and New Year.

The Naga City Police and the PNP continue to pursue the case, classifying the act as a crime of passion rooted in possessiveness, pending the official confirmation of Murphy Hofancia’s identity via DNA analysis, which will determine the closure of the criminal investigation.