Man Kills Wife, Commits Suicide

Tragedy struck as a 44-year-old former bank employee, identified as Mike Ilishebo, reportedly committed suicide after allegedly killing his 35-year-old wife, Valerie Franco, in Zambia.

It was gathered that the incident happened on Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at the Meanwood Ndeke Phase One area in Lusaka.

The Police Public Relations officer, Rae Hamoonga, confirmed the incident in a statement on Friday.

Hamoonga said that Ilishebo strangled Valerie with an electric power adapter cable and stabbed her in the stomach with a knife.

Hamoonga disclosed that the motive behind the incident appears to stem from a long marital dispute between the couple, who shared an eight-month-old child.

According to the statement, “On Wednesday, April 3, 2024, at approximately 16:05 hours, Chelston Police Station, through Ndeke-vorna Police Post, received a distressing report from Alice Mapulanga, 38, that Mr. Ilishebo has perpetrated a heinous act against his wife, Valerie, aged 35.

“Upon the arrival of Police Scenes of Crime officers at the scene, Ms. Franco’s lifeless body was discovered lying in the bedroom adjacent to the bed, with a knife embedded in her abdomen.

“Meanwhile, Mr Ilishebo was found deceased in the sitting room, with a black substance coming from his mouth

“It’s alleged that Mr Ilishebo strangled Ms Franco using an electric power adapter cable and subsequently stabbed her in the stomach with a knife, before taking a poisonous substance, resulting in his own demise.

“The bodies were transported to the University Teaching Hospital mortuary for further examination.”