The community is reeling from the tragic death of Alvaro Kiano Nugroho, a six-year-old boy who was abducted and subsequently murdered by his stepfather, Alex Iskandar. According to Tugimin, Alvaro’s grandfather, Alex was employed as a distributor for a prominent tea brand in Cengkareng, West Jakarta.
“He worked as a tea distributor. That’s where he was employed, at the tea distributor. In Cengkareng, the Cengkareng area,” Tugimin recounted when speaking to reporters at his residence in the Pesanggrahan area of South Jakarta on Monday, November 24.
In the time leading up to the horrific crime, Alex frequently visited and spent weekends playing with young Alvaro. This consistent interaction led Tugimin to perceive Alex as a kind-hearted individual, fostering no suspicion that he could be involved in such a heinous act. The grandfather never imagined that Alex would be the perpetrator behind Alvaro’s abduction and eventual murder. Further deepening this misplaced trust, Alex even actively participated in the initial search efforts when Alvaro was first reported missing.
“If we asked him to go somewhere (to look for Alvaro), he would go. So there was no suspicion at all. We just considered him a good person,” Tugimin expressed, highlighting the profound sense of betrayal felt by the family.
The Beginning of Alex and Arum’s Relationship
Alex’s integration into Alvaro’s family began in 2023 when he initiated a relationship with Arum, Alvaro’s biological mother. During this period, Arum often brought Alex to the family home, prompting Tugimin to eventually urge the couple to formalize their relationship through marriage.
“I decided to ask, ‘Arum, what’s going on with you and Alex? Is this serious or just playing around?'” Tugimin recalled. “She replied, ‘It’s serious, Dad.’ So I then said, ‘Okay, if it’s serious, when are you going to arrange the marriage?'”
At Tugimin’s insistence, Alex, who was then Catholic, agreed to convert to Islam as a prerequisite for marriage. He subsequently became a Muslim convert and married Arum at the Religious Affairs Office of Pesanggrahan District (KUA Kecamatan Pesanggrahan). Tugimin emphasized, “He wanted to marry my daughter, in the Islamic religion. And he wanted to convert to Islam without any coercion.”
However, despite their marriage, Alex and Arum never had children together. Their relationship reportedly began to unravel when Arum expressed her desire to work in Malaysia, a decision strongly opposed by Alex. Defying his wishes, Arum ultimately proceeded with her plan to move to Malaysia for work. This act of defiance seemingly ignited a bitter and escalating conflict between them.
Alex repeatedly demanded Arum’s return and accused her of infidelity—a destructive accusation that authorities now believe served as the powerful underlying motive for the abduction and murder of young Alvaro. “Initially, we didn’t know,” Tugimin revealed. “But after news of the arrest and interrogation, I eventually received a leak. From that leak, someone informed me there were motives. In essence, it was revenge against the mother.”
The tragic search for Alvaro concluded with the grim discovery of his skeletal remains in Kali Cirewet, Bogor Regency, on Sunday, November 23. Following this discovery, police swiftly apprehended Alex. Disturbingly, reports later emerged that Alex died by suicide while in custody at the South Jakarta Metro Police Station, bringing a somber end to the devastating case.
Summary
Alvaro Kiano Nugroho, a six-year-old boy, was abducted and murdered by his stepfather, Alex Iskandar, who worked as a tea distributor. Initially, Alex frequently visited and played with Alvaro, appearing kind and even participating in the search efforts when the boy went missing, which fostered no suspicion from the family.
Alex’s relationship with Alvaro’s mother, Arum, began in 2023, leading to their marriage after Alex converted to Islam. However, their relationship unraveled when Arum decided to work in Malaysia, defying Alex’s wishes, which led to his accusations of infidelity. This bitter conflict and a motive of revenge against Arum are believed to be the reasons for Alvaro’s murder, with his skeletal remains later found in Bogor Regency, and Alex subsequently died by suicide in police custody.