The person who was found dead and wrapped in plastic in a Santa Lucija apartment on Tuesday had suffered blows to the head, likely caused by a sharp instrument, and may have been suffocated as well, a police spokesperson said on Wednesday.
The body was found on Tuesday afternoon in a flat located in Misrah Dorell in Santa Lucija.
The residence belongs to Victor McKeon, 62, but the body has not yet been identified, police spokesman Brandon Pisani said.
DNA swabs have been taken from McKeon's relatives in a bid to identify the body, which was found to be in an advanced state of decomposition - which is the reason that its identity is yet to be confirmed.
The police are searching for a foreign man who lived with McKeon. Asked whether the man was a suspect in the case, Pisani said nothing is excluded at this stage.
The police, he said, had been alerted to the case at 2pm on Tuesday by residents who reported that they had not seen McKeon for a week and that a foul odour coming from the flat. Upon entering the residence, officers noted blood stains on a carpet and further stains along other parts of the house.
The body was found inside a bathroom. A towel had been used to seal the space between the door and the floor and the body was found laid down on the floor, wrapped with black bags and tape, Pisani said.
Pisani - who was flanked by Inspector Keith Arnaud who is leading the investigations, and Hubert Cini from the District Police - said that an autopsy held today had confirmed that the victim had sustained head injuries compatible with a sharp tool or object, and also noted the possibility of suffocation.
Forensic tests are underway to establish the exact time and cause of death. The recent movements of the owner of the residence - Victor McKeon - are also being traced, while his background is also being checked.
Given how the state of the crime scene, which is still sealed off, it is not excluded that the victim was killed inside the apartment, the spokesperson said.
Investigations into the case continue.