The scene where the two-year-old child's body was found. VNA/VNS Photo

HƯNG YÊN – Police are trying to identify the body of a woman they believe may be the suspect in the kidnapping and murder of a two-year-old girl.

The dead woman could be Giáp Thị Huyền Trang, 27, but police are waiting for DNA results before confirming her identity.

She is the main suspect in the disappearance and murder of a child, identified only as N.H.T.

Trang was working as a nanny for the child’s family. On September 19, Trang, from Việt Ngoc Commune, Tân Yên District of Bắc Giang Province, collected the child from school.

But instead of taking her home, she took her to Mễ Sở Commune, Văn Giang District of Hưng Yên Province and sent a blackmail message to the child's family demanding VNĐ1.5 billion (US$61,745).

The girl's family then transferred VNĐ350 million ($14,425) to Trang.

At about 11.30am the next day, Hưng Yên Police discovered the baby’s body in a fish pond on a farm in Mễ Sở Commune.

On September 21, the authorities discovered another body, this time an older female, in Đuống River in Hà Nội’s Gia Lâm.

Police believe the woman found was likely to be Trang because of her shape and the clothes she was wearing, although she was not carrying any documents that could identify her.

On the same day, Hà Nội Police met Trang’s mother to take a DNA sample for testing.

Currently, Hưng Yên Police is still coordinating with the police of Hà Nội and Bắc Giang Province to clarify the case.

According to Bắc Giang Police, Trang is the eldest sister in a family of three siblings. After graduating from pedagogical school, Trang went to teach but due to low income, she resigned from her job.

From the beginning of 2023 until now, she has worked at a leather shoe company in Hà Nội so is often absent from her hometown. VNS