“We never thought… he’d be the one to do it.”
These were the painful words repeated by the family of Angela Reyes, an 18-year-old honor student from San Pablo, Laguna, who was brutally murdered by someone she considered a close friend.
The case is now trending across social media, not only because of Angela’s young age, but because of the deep betrayal committed by the suspect — a boy everyone knew as polite, quiet, and kind.
📍 THE CRIME: An Ordinary Day Turned Into a Nightmare
On the evening of June 3, Angela went out with “Ryan” (not his real name), a 19-year-old neighbor and long-time friend of the family. According to Angela’s mother:
“They’ve gone out before. We trusted Ryan. We’ve known him since he was a child.”
But Angela never came home.
🚨 DISCOVERY OF THE BODY
Angela’s body was found the next morning in a vacant lot about 3 kilometers from their neighborhood. She was still wearing the same clothes she had on when she left, but her body showed signs of strangulation, bruises on her arms, and a stab wound to her side.
Authorities believe she was killed sometime between 10:00 PM and midnight. Forensic reports confirmed no signs of sexual assault, but investigators said the motive appeared to be jealousy and obsession.
🔍 THE HEARTBREAKING TRUTH: A “Friend” Turned Killer
CCTV footage from a nearby store showed Angela and Ryan walking together around 9:00 PM. But only Ryan was seen returning — alone.
He was arrested two days later. At first, he denied everything. But blood found on his shoes, which matched Angela’s DNA, forced him to confess.
💔 THE MOTIVE: OBSESSION, REJECTION, AND RAGE
During questioning, Ryan admitted that he had secretly been in love with Angela for a long time.
“She was always nice, but she never looked at me… I was always the one there for her, but she never saw me,” he reportedly said.
Police believe Ryan had been nursing feelings of rejection and frustration, which slowly turned into anger — and eventually, a murderous plan.
“This was no accident. He had thought about it. This was premeditated,” the lead investigator told reporters.
👨👩👧 THE FAMILY: Shattered and Seeking Justice
Angela’s family is devastated.
“A friend? A friend would never kill her like that,” her father said.
“We trusted him. He was in our home. He ate with us. And now, he’s taken our daughter.”
Her classmates and teachers held a candlelight vigil in her honor. A social media tribute created by friends has already gone viral, with hundreds of thousands of shares and comments.
📣 NETIZENS REACT: Justice Must Be Served
Outrage has erupted online. Social media platforms are flooded with messages of grief and calls for justice.
Trending hashtags include:
#JusticeForAngela
#KilledByAFriend
#NotAllNiceAreGood
#BeCarefulWhoYouTrust
“It’s terrifying to think you could be laughing with someone one day… and they’re planning your death the next,” one user wrote.
⚖️ THE CASE: Premeditated Murder
Ryan has been formally charged with Murder, not just Homicide, due to the calculated nature of the crime. The prosecutor said:
“There was clear intent, premeditation, and betrayal of trust. This wasn’t a fight. This was an execution.”
If convicted, Ryan could face life imprisonment without parole.
📝 FINAL THOUGHTS: A Painful Reminder of Hidden Monsters
Angela’s story isn’t just another crime statistic — it’s a chilling reminder that not all smiles are sincere, and not all “friends” are safe.
Sometimes, the monster isn’t a stranger in the dark — it’s someone who pretended to care.