Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Karen De Guzman

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1784080689845Screen Shot 2026-07-14 at 7.04.27 AM (6).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Dr. Kent Carpenter, 73, was shot and killed on Sunday night by three unidentified armed men who entered his residence in Barangay Ajong, Sibulan, Negros Oriental. <em>Contributed via Annie Perez</em><br/></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATE) </strong>— The live-in partner of slain American marine biologist Dr. Kent Carpenter has been identified as one of the persons of interest (POIs) in the investigation into his killing, the Negros Oriental Police said Wednesday.</p><p>Carpenter was shot dead inside his home in Sibulan, Negros Oriental on Sunday evening.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/14/american-marine-biologist-gunned-down-in-negros-oriental-0820">American marine biologist gunned down in Negros Oriental</a></div><p>His live-in partner survived the attack after sustaining wounds.</p><p>Negros Oriental Police director Col. Timmar Alam said investigators are closely looking into the woman&#x27;s account of the incident, noting inconsistencies that surfaced during the investigation.</p><p>“Unang-una, hindi naman siya sinaktan. At taga doon din siya, lokal din siya na resident doon,” Alam said. </p><p>Alam said the woman had also claimed she was sexually assaulted by the suspects after being tied up with a charger cord.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/15/scientific-community-grieves-demands-justice-for-slain-marine-expert-0721">Scientific community grieves, demands justice for slain marine expert Kent Carpenter</a></div><p>However, a vaginal swab examination yielded negative results.</p><p>“Doon sa claim niya na sinasabi niyang ginapos muna siya ng charger cord, tapos pinadapa siya. Kini-claim niya na she was sexually assaulted, it is still under investigation kasi wala pa po nag-prove,” Alam said.</p><p>Police are examining why the woman was spared during the attack.</p><p>“Hindi natin masabi na siya ay involved. Basta sa ngayon, since she was left alive, probably baka kilala or kakilala siya, kilala siya ng mga suspects. We are considering those angles,” Alam said.</p><p>The police official said the woman told investigators that she and Carpenter had been living together for about seven years.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NO FORCED ENTRY</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Investigators also corrected an earlier report that suggested there had been a forcible entry into the victims&#x27; home.</p><p>Following a more thorough crime scene examination, police found no signs of forced entry.</p><p>“When we conducted the ocular inspection, wala kami nakikitang forcible entry sa bahay. But meron kami nakitang part sa bahay na pwedeng maakyat, ‘yung parang terrace nila sa taas,” Alam said.</p><p>Aside from Carpenter&#x27;s live-in partner, her sibling has also been listed as a person of interest because of his frequent visits to the house.</p><p>Alam clarified that there is no evidence at this point linking the sibling directly to the crime.</p><p>Based on initial CCTV footage, police believe the attack may not have been meticulously planned.</p><p>“‘Yung mga galawan ng mga suspects, parang hindi naman siya ganun kaplanado kasi parang nasa mga 20s lang ‘yung mga suspects. Nagkataon lang talaga, parang kung sino ‘yung may opportunity, ‘yun ang papasukin nila,” Alam said.</p><p>Alam said there was no indication that Carpenter resisted the intruders.</p><p>Police are also looking into the possibility that the suspects were under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol at the time of the attack.</p><p>“For the moment, naikita namin is purely intent to gain. As claimed by the surviving victim po, mayroon P50,000 cash [na kinuha], plus another cash doon sa wallet nung victim na may laman din P25,000. Tapos isang laptop at saka isang binocular,” Alam said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>CARPENTER&#x27;S WORK</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Authorities have found no indication yet that the killing was connected to Carpenter&#x27;s work as a marine biologist, although investigators continue to examine all possible angles, including his professional activities. </p><p>The Negros Oriental Police said it has coordinated with the US Embassy regarding the case.</p><p>Meanwhile, the police’s cybercrime unit is enhancing CCTV footage recovered from the area to help identify the suspects.</p><p>Investigators hope the improved footage will lead to witnesses who can identify those involved in the killing.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9PH4wgTPBm0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The live-in partner of American marine biologist Dr. Kent Carpenter is now a person of interest in his killing, Negros Oriental Police said Wednesday.</p>

The live-in partner of American marine biologist Dr. Kent Carpenter is now a person of interest in his killing, Negros Oriental Police said Wednesday.

Partner of slain US marine biologist now among 'persons of interest'

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Partner of slain US marine biologist now among 'persons of interest'

Karen De Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 15, 2026 09:59 AM PHT

|

Updated July 15, 2026 11:45 AM PHT

Read More:

crime

kent carpenter

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crime

shooting

live-in partner

American marine biologist

Negros Oriental

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