The bodies of an elderly couple were exhumed by the police from a dilapidated well in a rubber plantation adjoining their house on Thursday.
The police said John, 65, and Leelamma, 60, of Kanjiravilayil House at Perumpulickal in Pandalam were allegedly killed by their youngest son Mathew John, 28, following an altercation on June 25. Mathew John, who surrendered before the Pandalam police confessing to the crime, was arrested.
The accused with his wife and children were staying with his parents at Perumpulickal. His wife and children were away at her house in Kottayam on the day of the incident.
The accused stated before the police that he had an altercation with his father on June 25 and fatally knocked him down. He killed his mother, who was witness to the incident. He then dragged the bodies into a dilapidated well in the rubber plantation and told his neighbours that his parents had gone to attend some retreat.
Mathew John said he had dumped a few poisoned stray dogs into the well after his neighbours and latex-tappers complained of stench emanating from the well. He hired an earthmover and dumped earth into the well on Thursday morning.
Attending a phone call of his elder brother Varghese John, who is residing abroad, the accused said he killed their parents and dumped the bodies into the well a week ago. The former informed his relatives, who in turn alerted the police in the morning.
Meanwhile, Mathew John walked in to the Pandalam police station and confessed to the crime.
The police later exhumed the bodies from the well.
