Hualien police yesterday said they suspect the two women whose unclothed bodies were found on a riverbed in Hsiulin Township (
"Police suspect that the two victims were sex workers by their looks, hair, make up and the rings they wore, and that the two women might have been murdered after having disputes with their guests," said Chen Kwan-yu (陳寬裕), a police officer at the Hualien County Police Department who is leading the investigation.
Chen said that police were attempting to identify the two victims by visiting hostess bars and love hotels in Hualien City, but the investigation has been slow.
There were no signs on the victims' bodies indicating they fought with the criminals before they were killed, so police think they probably were familiar with the killers, Chen said.
The women's necks, however, did show signs of strangulation.
The two victims were probably Aboriginal, Chen added.
No one has come forward to identify the victims.
Chen said that according to a witness, at around 5am on Sunday, two black cars stopped by the bridge from which the two bodies were thrown. The cars quickly left when a male driver saw the witness looking at the vehicles.
Chen said the two murders are probably connected.
He added that because the older victim, about 30 years old, was pregnant and weighed around 70kg, she had probably been dragged to the location by at least two people.
Chen said the murders had likely been committed in Hualien City.
The first corpse was discovered by an elderly man at around 6am on Sunday on the riverbed under the Shueiyuan Bridge in Hsiulin Township.
Police discovered the second body at around 10am, less than 100m from the first.
Both were only wearing underpants but there were no indications of rape.
Forensic doctors said that the younger victim, thought to be around 20 years old, was thrown off the bridge after being strangled. The second woman also showed signs of strangulation and had been hit on the head.
Forensic doctors are expected to conduct autopsies tomorrow.
Police said the murders have terrified residents of the quiet township.
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