Pensioner found murdered in his home in Sant Llorenç

Staff Reporter THE Guardia Civil are investigating the murder of an 82-year-old resident of Sant Llorenç, whose body was found lying in a pool of blood in his home on Friday night. Mateu Salas Bauzá had been hit on the head, according to the Guardia Civil, who yesterday searched his home looking for fingerprints and other clues to the murder. The victim, a well known master dry stone builder, lived alone in Calle Mossén Galmés, on the road from Artà to Manacor. He was a widower and had no children. One of his sisters had gone to the house in the afternoon, worried because he hadn't answered her calls, but found it locked up. That same evening there was a family funeral, and his relatives became alarmed when he did not attend. They went to his home, accompanied by the Guardia Civil, and the body was found in front of the television set. He had a head injury which had bled profusely, and sources said that he had been dead for some hours. The house was immediately sealed up as the Guardia Civil opened their murder investigation. Early yesterday morning, teams from Palma, Manacor and Artà started to search the neighbouring yards, particularly the one next door to Sr Salas's home. The investigators believe that the killer obtained access by one of the neighbouring gardens, and then found his victim in front of the television, possibly dozing. The Guardia Civil also searched rubbish bins and waste paper baskets in the street, in case the killer had thrown away the murder weapon as he fled. They have also been asking neighbours if they heard strange noises or saw anyone suspicious. The Manacor judge has ordered an autopsy. At the time of going to press, no arrests had been made.