Police say a month-long missing-person case led investigators to an alleged double murder.
What began as a missing-person report involving a woman and her four-year-old son has developed into a major criminal investigation in East Java, with police arresting the woman’s partner after uncovering evidence that both victims had allegedly been killed.
Mother and Child Reported Missing
Dini Hardiyanti, 30, and her four-year-old son, identified by the initials AGEF, were reported missing to police in Madiun, East Java. The two were originally from Bogor Regency and were last known to have been in Madiun with Dini’s partner, Dwi Bagus Martono. East Java Police later became involved as the missing-person investigation developed into a suspected homicide case.
Police Allege Argument Preceded Killings
According to East Java Police, investigators suspect that Dini was killed following an argument with Dwi at a hotel in Madiun. Jealousy and personal conflict were cited as possible motives. Police also allege that Dini’s son was killed at a separate location. The circumstances and motives remain under investigation.
Suspect Allegedly Tried to Destroy Evidence
Investigators allege that after the killings, the suspect attempted to conceal evidence by burning and dismembering the victims’ remains and using a meat grinder before planning to dispose of them at sea. Police said they recovered evidence connected to the case and continued searching the area around the suspect’s property for additional remains.
Suspect Joined Family in Missing-Person Report
Police said Dwi had accompanied members of Dini’s family when they reported the mother and child missing, allowing the disappearance narrative to continue for about a month. Investigators later reviewed the victims’ last known movements, including surveillance footage connected to a hotel in Madiun, and said inconsistencies eventually shifted the case toward a suspected homicide investigation.
Arrest Made in Jombang
Dwi was arrested in Jombang on the night of October 25 and taken to East Java Police headquarters for further questioning on October 26. Police are continuing forensic examinations, evidence collection, and searches related to the case. The allegations against him will ultimately need to be established through Indonesia’s judicial process.
The case has transformed a month-long search for a missing mother and child into a complex homicide investigation involving police teams in East Java. For Indonesians, it underscores the importance of detailed investigation when missing-person cases contain unexplained circumstances. For Singaporeans following developments in neighboring Indonesia, the case also provides insight into how Indonesian authorities reconstruct serious criminal cases through witness accounts, surveillance evidence, and forensic investigation.
Sources: Batampos (2026) , Kumparan (2026)
Keywords: Madiun Murder Case, Dini Hardiyanti, Dwi Bagus Martono, East Java Police, Bogor Missing Persons, Indonesia Crime
