A heartbreaking discovery has brought closure to a four-year mystery, as the skeletal remains of a missing 14-year-old girl were found in a boarding house.

Authorities have identified the remains uncovered in Barangay Apokon, Tagum City, Davao del Norte, as those of 17-year-old Quinnie Grace Arong, who vanished on March 4, 2020. Her remains were discovered on July 14, 2024, when the property owner was digging to expand a septic tank.

Workers were devastated when they unearthed a human skull along with personal belongings—a watch, clothing, pants, shoes, and socks—believed to have been the last things Arong wore before she disappeared. A rope was also found, suspected to have been used to tie the sack that concealed her remains.

Tagum City Police Chief Lt. Col. Wildemar Tiu confirmed that authorities have identified a suspect, a man who allegedly posed as a photographer to prey on young women with false promises of modeling opportunities.

Tiu assured the public that efforts to secure an arrest warrant are moving swiftly. He also urged women to remain vigilant, warning that predators often hide behind trust and opportunity.

Arong’s tragic fate is a painful reminder of the dangers lurking in the shadows, and her family now faces the heartbreaking reality of a loss they had feared but never wanted to accept.