The investigation into the murder of 16-year-old Deveney Nel faces significant challenges as new details emerge.
Story Summary:
- Deveney’s body was discovered in a school storeroom after she was reported missing.
- Potential mishandling of evidence by police has raised concerns.
- No arrests have been made, and the investigation is ongoing.
Deveney Nel murder update: Here’s what we know
Deveney Nel was last seen alive on Wednesday, 7 August 2024, during a sports day at Hoërskool Overberg in Caledon, where she served on the first aid team.
When she failed to return home to Grabouw, her mother reported her missing.
A search led to the discovery of her body later that day in a storeroom on the school premises.
Reports suggest that Deveney may not have been killed in the storeroom, as drag marks found at the scene indicate her body was moved from a nearby toilet.
Her cellphone and ribbon were also discovered on the back of a bakkie belonging to a man who works near the school, further complicating the investigation.
The tragedy has left the school community devastated.
Education MEC David Maynier expressed his condolences, saying:
“No words could provide comfort right now, but our thoughts are with them at this time.”
WC police under scrutiny over potential poor evidence handling
The Western Cape police are under scrutiny for how they have handled the evidence in the investigation into Deveney Nel’s murder.
There are growing concerns that errors made during the initial stages of the investigation could hinder efforts to solve the case.
Heindrich Wyngaard, chair of the Cape Forum, outlined several grievances in a letter to police oversight and community safety MEC Anroux Marais.
Wyngaard pointed out that Deveney’s mother, Lida, was directed to report her daughter’s disappearance in Grabouw instead of at the local Caledon police station.
He also mentioned that a senior officer from the Overberg District command unit allegedly took control of the crime scene before the local police could carry out their investigation, despite the local station commander being present.
There are also claims that the scene was “cleaned up” prematurely, and key witnesses, including the person who found Deveney’s body and the owner of the bakkie where her cellphone was found, were not immediately questioned.
As the investigation proceeds, the focus is on several pieces of evidence, including the rape kits conducted to determine if Deveney was sexually assaulted and possible fingerprints collected from the various crime scenes.
Despite these efforts, no arrests have been made, and the case has now been transferred to the provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit.