MANILA, Philippines – An Australian national has been found dead inside a hotel room in Ermita, Manila this past weekend. Manila District-Homicide Sections said 58-year-old Kimberley James Powell was found dead by hotel staff at the Paragon Hotel Tower, located at 531 A. Flores St., Ermita, Manila. Powell was discovered after a women came to visit him at the hotel – the front desk called the unit Powell was staying in, but the call went unanswered. Hotel attendant Neric John Manalo decided to knock on Powell’s hotel room door without reply – Manalo then decided to open the door with the hotel’s duplicate key. Upon opening the door, Manalo and the women were met with a heavy stench and the sight of the Australian national lying naked from the waist down in the hotel room’s CR. Found with the victim were his hypertension medications as well as his diabetes medication – also found with him were his passport, cellphone, wristwatch and a wallet containing 3,200 pesos and various ATM cards belong to the victim. An initial investigation into the matter shows that Powell checked into the hotel on October 16th – police believe that he may have suffered a heart attack. Though no wounds were found on the body, Powell’s remains was brought to St. Rich Funeral Parlor for a formal autopsy into the cause of his death.
