Rica Grace Simple, 13, was sent to the store one night to buy ice and liquor for her grandfather. She never returned home. 

The day after, her body was found at a sugarcane field in Barangay West, located approximately two to three kilometers from her house in the southern town of Candoni in Negros Occidental. 

She had a wound in the forehead and, when she was found, the t-shirt she was wearing reportedly appeared to have been lifted slightly.

Police said whoever hurt the girl might have used a hard object to hit her.

“Nang natagpuan, nakahiga siya sa gitna ng taniman ng tubo. May gugat sa ulo. Kumpleto rin ang kanyang damit. Siguro, hard object (ang ginamit), hindi kutsilyo,” said Capt. Leonel Adoracion, chief of the Candoni Municipal Police Station.

Rica’s family started to worry when she never came back home after going out to the store evening on April 26, 2026.

The store is located about 50 meters away from her house.

Residents near the sugarcane field found her body.

INVESTIGATION

The police said they have identified a person of interest but they continue to gather evidence to build a case, as of this writing.

“Sa area ng Barangay Haba, hindi mag-worry. Kung may alam kayo, coordinate sa amin. Mayroon na kaming tinututukan, pero tinitipon pa ang concrete evidence,” Leonel said.

Candoni Mayor Ray Ruiz urged residents to relay to the police any information they may get that can help solve the case.

“Na-shock ako na iyan ang nangyari. Hindi ako makapaniwala na may ganyang pangyayari sa bayan. Kung may impormasyon o marining tungkol sa nangyari, hindi tayo magdadalawang isip na lumapit sa pulisya,” the mayor said.