Drowning was cited as the cause of death for a 22-year-old student found in the Ikopa River, but his family claims it was murder.
Two conflicting versions surround the death of Ny Aina Liantsoa Andrimasinavalona, a 22-year-old student found in the Ikopa River on Monday, July 20, after a six-day search. His family, residing in Ambohimanambola, is convinced he was a victim of murder.
“He was beaten before being thrown into the water. His head was swollen, and blood was still coming from his ears and mouth,” a relative stated. According to them, visible bruises on his temples prove he suffered violence. His fiancée, a medical student, recounted: “Like every evening, he came to pick me up and walked me home. Before leaving, he told me he would text me as soon as he got home. But I never received a message. I tried calling him, but no one answered.”
A professor of Ny Aina confirmed: “It was his habit to walk this young woman home every evening. That Wednesday, he was supposed to be back around 7:30 PM. At 8:00 PM, we received a call reporting his disappearance. We searched all night without success.”
The family, who had traveled from Antsirabe to attend his thesis defense scheduled for the following day, became quickly alarmed.
“If he had really died on Wednesday, his body would have been much more decomposed. But that was not the case. We believe he was held somewhere, beaten, and then thrown into the water on Saturday night,” a family member added. The relatives claim to have followed every step, up to the autopsy, and remain convinced it was a homicide.
However, an initial medical and police report suggests drowning as the cause of death. The official document states that the body was found in Mahitsy, in the commune of Alasora, and that the forensic examination indicates death by immersion. Authorities added that the investigation remains open to determine the exact circumstances.
Between the drowning theory supported by initial examinations and the family’s conviction of murder, the Ny Aina case raises serious questions. Investigations are ongoing to shed light on this tragedy that has shocked the family and the residents of Ambohimanambola.
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-23 06:09:09 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/ambohimanambola-la-famille-de-ny-aina.html