Kerala double murder: Son held for killing mother, brother in Idukki
Synopsis
A younger son has been taken into custody in Kerala's Idukki after decomposed bodies believed to be his mother and elder brother were found buried in the family courtyard — and police are now re-examining a suspicious disappearance from the same household in 2018, raising the possibility of a far darker pattern.
Key Takeaways
Saji , younger son of Marykutty Mathew , was taken into custody by police in connection with the Nedumkandam double murder case in Idukki, Kerala .
Decomposed, mutilated bodies — believed to be those of Marykutty and her elder son Reji — were unearthed from the courtyard of their Pachadi residence.
Both victims were last seen alive on 9 April ; a post-mortem examination is pending to formally confirm identities.
Relatives cited frequent arguments between the brothers as a sign of long-running family tensions; son-in-law Raju said disputes had escalated in recent weeks.
Police are also re-examining the mysterious disappearance of Marykutty's husband in 2018 under similar circumstances, probing a possible link.
Police in Idukki, Kerala, have taken into custody Saji, the younger son of Marykutty Mathew, in connection with the alleged murder of his mother and elder brother Reji, whose decomposed bodies were unearthed from the courtyard of their residence in Pachadi, near Nedumkandam, earlier this week. Saji was detained from a plot of land close to the family home, in what investigators are calling a significant breakthrough in the Nedumkandam double murder case.
How the Discovery Unfolded
Marykutty and Reji had been reported missing for several days, drawing concern from neighbours in the high-range village of Pachadi. When questioned by relatives, Saji reportedly gave conflicting accounts of their whereabouts, raising immediate suspicion. The inconsistencies were conveyed to Marykutty's daughter, who subsequently filed a formal police complaint. A detailed search of the premises led to the discovery of human remains buried within the compound, found in a mutilated state that made immediate identification difficult.
State of the Investigation
Investigators say both Marykutty and Reji were last seen alive on 9 April. A post-mortem examination, expected to be completed shortly, is likely to confirm whether the remains are indeed those of the missing mother and son, according to police. The bodies, believed to be several days old at the time of discovery, were found in a decomposed condition, according to officials.
Troubled Family Background
The probe has begun to uncover a troubled domestic backdrop. According to relatives, frequent arguments between the two brothers had become a regular occurrence, indicating long-simmering tensions within the household. Marykutty's son-in-law, Raju, indicated that disputes had escalated in recent weeks, eventually prompting the family to approach the police. Efforts to contact Saji in the days leading up to the discovery had repeatedly failed, further intensifying suspicion.
2018 Disappearance Now Under Scrutiny
In a significant development, police are also revisiting the mysterious disappearance of Marykutty's husband in 2018, which reportedly occurred under similar circumstances. Investigators are examining whether a deeper pattern links the two cases — a line of inquiry that, if confirmed, would substantially alter the scale of the alleged crimes. This is the second time in seven years that the family has been touched by an unexplained disappearance.
What Remains Unanswered
While Saji's custody marks a crucial step forward, investigators say several questions remain unresolved — including the precise motive behind the alleged killings, the exact sequence of events, and whether any other individuals were involved. For the quiet community of Pachadi, the revelations have been deeply unsettling. As the post-mortem results and further interrogation are awaited, the full extent of what may be a multi-year family tragedy is yet to be established.
Point of View
This stops being a domestic tragedy and becomes a serial crime — one that unfolded over years in plain sight of a community that noticed tensions but lacked a mechanism to intervene. The fact that it took a daughter's formal complaint, not a proactive welfare check, to trigger the discovery raises uncomfortable questions about how rural Kerala handles intra-family distress signals.
NationPress
3 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has been taken into custody in the Nedumkandam double murder case?
Saji, the younger son of Marykutty Mathew, has been taken into custody by Kerala Police in connection with the alleged murders of his mother Marykutty and elder brother Reji. He was detained from a plot of land near the family home in Pachadi, Idukki.
Where were the bodies found in the Kerala double murder case?
The decomposed and mutilated bodies, believed to be those of Marykutty and Reji, were found buried in the courtyard of their residence in Pachadi, near Nedumkandam in Kerala's Idukki district. The discovery was made after a detailed search of the premises following a police complaint.
When were Marykutty and Reji last seen alive?
According to investigators, both Marykutty Mathew and her elder son Reji were last seen alive on 9 April. Their prolonged absence raised concern among neighbours and relatives before the police complaint was filed.
Why are police re-examining the 2018 disappearance in connection with this case?
Police are revisiting the mysterious disappearance of Marykutty's husband in 2018, which reportedly occurred under similar circumstances. Investigators are examining whether a deeper pattern links the two cases, which could significantly expand the scope of the inquiry.
What is the current status of the investigation?
Saji is in police custody and is being interrogated. A post-mortem examination of the recovered remains is pending to formally confirm the identities of the victims. The motive, exact sequence of events, and possible involvement of others remain under investigation.
