Probe ordered on American’s death

CAMP RAFAEL C. RODRIGUEZ, Butuan City – Chief Supt. Rolando B. Felix, regional director of Northeastern Mindanao Police Regional Office 13 (PRO 13) yesterday ordered Metro Butuan City Police Office (BCPO) Director Senior Supt. Percival Augustus Placer to dig deeper into the reason for the mysterious death of an American national last Sunday.

The region’s police chief also directed the BCPO official to examine the medical records of American Larry William Mangold, 74, a Chemistry teacher from Philadelphia.

“His death must be investigated and an official report must be submitted to PRO 13, copy furnished to the American Embassy in Manila,” Felix said in his directive to the BCPO chief.

Before his death, Mangold was temporarily residing at Barangay 4, Leon Kilat St., Buenavista town, Agusan del Norte, it was learned.

His lifeless body was found at 5:45 a.m. on Sunday.

An initial investigation conducted by the BCPO showed that Mangold was found dead in the house of his alleged Filipina wife Naomi Mira, 64, at Purok 4, Barangay Bading, Butuan City early Sunday morning.

“The body (Mangold) was already lifeless when Naomi woke up in the morning,” the BCPO initial report added.

During follow up investigation yesterday, Mira told BCPO that Mangold was previously confined in a hospital in Butuan City for a surgical operation.

However, the BCPO initial report did not indicate what kind of illness or what was the reason why the American national underwent surgical operation.

BCPO-Police Station 2 on case has been directed to “dig deeper” on the death of the American national if there was any foul play.

As of this posting, BCPO is still thoroughly investigating on his death. (Mike U. Crismundo)