Sebastian a serial killer? More bones recovered near his house; nearby pond to be drained

ALAPPUZHA: Bones have been recovered once again from the property of real estate dealer C.M. Sebastian, who was arrested on suspicion of being a serial killer. The remains were found in a pit behind his house at Chongumthara in Pallippuram, Cherthala. Following this discovery, police are preparing to drain a nearby pond to search for more bodies, as they suspect there could be additional remains.

Earlier, a skull, a thigh bone, and a tooth with a dental clip had been recovered from the same area. Sebastian, who is currently in the custody of the Kottayam Crime Branch, has not confessed to the crimes. Police began suspecting him of being a serial killer after linking these remains to past missing persons cases. The tooth clip matched that of Ayesha (58), a former panchayat employee from Varanad in Cherthala, who went missing years ago. Blood samples from Ayesha’s daughter have been collected for DNA testing.

Sebastian is also suspected in the disappearances of Bindu Padmanabhan (47) from Kadakkarappally, Cherthala, and Sindhu (43) from Vallakkunathuveli, Cherthala South. Bindu was reported missing in 2017, and Sebastian allegedly forged documents to illegally seize her land in Edappally, Ernakulam. Multiple excavations have been conducted at Sebastian’s property, but nothing else was found earlier. He refused to undergo a lie detector test.

Sebastian had met Jain Mathew, also known as Jayanamma (55), at a meditation centre in Pala. He was involved in real estate dealings with her and allegedly sold her gold. Jayanamma went missing on December 23, 2024, after leaving home for meditation. Police have found that her phone was later recharged by Sebastian in Erattupetta.

Ayesha went missing on May 13, 2012, after receiving a phone call and leaving home for the bank. She had been in a property dispute with her family, and Sebastian had offered to help her buy five cents of nearby land.

Sindhu disappeared on October 19, 2020, after visiting the Thiruvizha temple for offerings. This happened just two days before her daughter’s engagement. No direct evidence has yet linked Sebastian to Sindhu’s disappearance.