An Atlantis father has been left traumatised after discovering the half-naked body of his daughter in a shallow grave a day after she went missing.
Her devastated mother, Washiela, 54, says a frantic search for her daughter Lamees Dilman, 21, yielded no results.
Then her father, David, 50, made a shocking discovery on a field in Sherwood Park.
She says she last saw Lamees, who has a mental disability, on Wednesday morning when she smoked an entjie near their home.
“She was supposed to go with relatives to the day hospital and they were already dressed and she decided to stay at home,” explains Washiela.
“She was wearing pants, a vest and a blue gown and just went to smoke a cigarette with her friend.”
The mom says after her daughter failed to return home, the family looked for her at friends’ homes but came up empty.
“Somebody said she was seen with this guy but he denied it and we went to open a case,” says Washiela.
The family also scoured a field just metres away from home but still could not find her.
According to eyewitnesses, Lamees was seen with her alleged killer as they came out of the dense bushes.
The pathway where her body was dragged. Video: Monique Duval
David says on Thursday at around 7am, he was walking across the field to work when he made the discovery.
“I was walking and decided to look again and that is when I saw two graves that were dug.
“I looked closer and saw her body among the reeds. Her pants were removed and she was face down in the sand.
“She had burn marks on her legs and her lip was split open,” says the father.
Washiela said the police took the alleged killer in for questioning.
“They found her pants and gown in his Wendy house but his mother told the people Lamees was never there.
“At this stage we don't know exactly how she was killed or whether or not she was raped because we are still waiting for the police,” she says.
SAPS’ Andre Traut, confirms the incident and said a suspect, 35, has been arrested.
“A man was detained on a charge of murder on Friday and he is expected to make his court appearance (today).
Describing Lamees as her angel child, Washiela believes she was intentionally targeted.
“She was a special needs child and was very lovable and trusting. He must have targeted her because he knew that she would not be able to realise that there was potential danger,” adds Washiela.