Updated 8.10pm
GARDAÍ INVESTIGATING THE murder of Jastine Valdez have zeroed in on her missing iPad.
As the investigation widens into the 24-year-old’s murder at the hands of construction worker Mark Hennessy, gardaí have renewed their appeal for information from the public.
The focus of the investigation is now into the whereabouts of Valdez’s blue handbag, and her Apple Mini iPad.
Gardaí, assisted by the Defence Forces, had already found her purse and a jacket belonging to the young woman. She had been strangled.
Earlier, over 50 members of the Defence Forces as well as gardaí had been combing through two search sites in a bid to locate Jastine’s backpack to try to establish a link between her and her killer.
Her body was discovered just off the Puck’s Castle Lane area of Rathmichael in south Dublin on Monday afternoon. A blood-stained letter from her suspected killer Mark Hennessy led gardaí to the site.
The searches are taking place in Enniskerry, where she was abducted, and also in the area of Rathmichael, where her body was dumped.
Gardaí hope to find something in the bag which may link Jastine to Hennessy. As of now, gardaí can find nothing to link them.
Gardaí yesterday said that Hennessy may have visited several locations across south Dublin over the weekend and appealed to members of the public who may have seen him to pass on that information.
Hennessy is described as being 5’9’’, of slight build and balding. He was wearing a dark coloured t-shirt, blue jeans and grey runners at the time.
“We would particularly like to speak with people who were in the; Dalkey, Killiney, Ballybrack, Sallynoggin, Cherrywood, Rathmichael areas. The car may have stopped at restaurants, cafes, petrol station shops or bars in those areas,” gardaí said.
“If you travelled in this part of county Dublin between Saturday and Sunday evenings and you have a dashcam fitted please contact us and make the footage available to investigators.”
Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact Bray Garda Station on 01 666 5300, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.
With reporting by Cianan Brennan
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