Cheryl Gay van Houten

Cheryl van Houten (1951 - 2002)

Brief overview:

Cheryl (51), was ambushed in the kitchen of her two-story home, on a smallholding in Centurion, Pretoria, on 7th June 2002 around 19h30.

The attackers hacked Cheryl to death, after which they hid her body in the attic. Her body was found the next day.

"Her daughter-in-law, Jolene Palmer, had tried to call, discovered her body when she and Kendell investigated the next day."

Brief Biography:

• Other Victims/Family
• Funeral/Memorial
• The Farm/Smallholding
• The Region (Land disputes, other incidents etc.)
  • Van Houten, who worked for NuMetro Cinemas, had suffered at least 16 burglaries in the past year and was packing to move to Johannesburg.

Attack Details:

• Date and time of attack
• Weapons
• Items Stolen
  • Apparently, nothing was stolen: Wierdabrug Police Station spokesperson Inspector Ilze Jones said: "We suspect the attackers planned to take the half-packed boxes with them, but might have been scared away when Ian Kendell, owner of the smallholding who let the house to Mrs van Houten, had shone a torch into the yard."
• Investigative officer/SAPS Case No:
• Torture, Gratuitous violence
• Indications of Hate Crime? Threats etc.

Perpetrator details:

• Number and Descriptions
• Arrests
  • A widespread police hunt was launched for the suspects, including a search by helicopter, but late on Friday the suspects were still at large.
• Name/s and age/s of Perpetrator/s
• Country of origin of Perpetrator/s
• Trial/Conviction

Additional Biographical Information:

• Identity Number : 5009120136086
• Cause of death : Unnatural causes

Links to Media articles:

• https://web.archive.org/web/20030703225152/http://groups.msn.com/cr...
• http://archive.is/iDwoL
• https://archive.is/DXGy9
• https://www.geni.com/documents/view?doc_id=6000000191877111849