A second suspect has been apprehended in connection with the murder of 19-year-old Jesse Hess and her 85-year-old grandfather. It was also discovered that Hess was raped.
The suspect will appear in court today, along with Hess’s 31-year-old relative, David van Boven.
“A 37-year-old man was also arrested yesterday and will appear with the 31-year-old in the Bellville Magistrate’s Court today on the murder charge,” SAPS spokesperson, Captain FC van Wyk said in a statement this morning.
Previously, police had indicated that they were planning on making another arrest in the case after Van Boven initially appeared at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court on Friday on charges of rape, attempted murder, and robbery with aggravating circumstances. These charges are unrelated to the Hess case.
Van Boven was apprehended in Struisbaai last Thursday. He was arrested for the rape of a 16-year-old Hanover Park girl when the girl’s mother caught him in the act.
He had also reportedly been taken in for questioning soon after Hess’s murder.
On Friday, the court heard that Van Boven was out on parole for charges of rape and drug-related crimes. The case has been postponed to February 14 upon further investigation.
Van Boven was remanded in custody after he opted to not apply for bail.
Picture: Jessé Hess/Facebook