Alex Iskandar, the stepfather suspected of the kidnapping and murder of six-year-old Alvaro Kiano Nugroho, was found dead in what is believed to be a suicide. The incident reportedly occurred in a counseling room at the South Jakarta Metro Police headquarters in the early hours of Sunday, November 23. This revelation directly contradicts initial information circulated by Alvaro’s family, who claimed Alex had allegedly died by suicide within a detention cell.
Providing an official clarification, Kombes Budi Hermanto, Head of Public Relations for the Metro Jaya Police, confirmed the location. “The individual in question allegedly committed suicide in the counseling room, not in a detention cell,” Hermanto stated in an official release received on Monday, November 24. This statement aims to rectify the narrative surrounding the suspect’s death as the investigation unfolds.
Despite the official confirmation of the location, the specific method and underlying cause of Alex’s alleged suicide remain unknown to authorities. Police have announced plans to officially release further details regarding the perplexing case later tonight, leaving the public and the victim’s family awaiting more comprehensive information.
The tragic discovery of Alvaro’s remains—a skeleton—in the Cirewet River, Bogor Regency, on Sunday, November 23, had previously sent shockwaves through the community. This grim finding swiftly led to the arrest of Alex Iskandar, who was subsequently taken into custody at the South Jakarta Metro Police. Shortly after his arrest, reports emerged that Alex had died by suicide while in police custody, adding another layer of complexity to the already devastating case.
Further shedding light on the family’s background, Alex was the second husband of Alvaro’s mother. The couple once resided in Tangerang before Alvaro’s mother relocated to Malaysia for work. According to statements from Alvaro’s maternal grandfather, the relationship between Alvaro’s mother and Alex had severely deteriorated. During this tumultuous period, young Alvaro had been living with his maternal grandparents in South Jakarta.
Alvaro’s grandmother, Sayem (53), was among the first to receive the shocking news of Alex’s death. She recounted to journalists gathered at her home in Pesanggrahan, South Jakarta, on Monday, November 24, how police had initially informed them of Alex’s alleged suicide in detention. “They reported that the suspect, this morning at 8 AM, had also committed suicide. I immediately fainted; I wasn’t conscious,” Sayem emotionally shared, highlighting the profound impact of the news on the grieving family.
Sayem also conveyed further details provided by the police, indicating that Alex had already been buried in the Tangerang area. She added that the family had received photographs of the gravestone marking Alex’s final resting place, concluding a rapid and tragic sequence of events surrounding the kidnapping and murder suspect.
Summary
Alex Iskandar, the stepfather suspected in the kidnapping and murder of six-year-old Alvaro Kiano Nugroho, died by alleged suicide in a counseling room at the South Jakarta Metro Police headquarters on Sunday, November 23. This contradicted initial family claims of his death occurring in a detention cell, which police later clarified. The exact method and cause of Alex’s death remain unknown, with further details expected from authorities.
Alex’s death followed the tragic discovery of Alvaro’s skeletal remains in the Cirewet River, Bogor, which led to Alex’s arrest. Alvaro’s grandmother, Sayem, was informed by police of Alex’s suicide and subsequent burial in Tangerang, causing her profound distress. Alex was the second husband of Alvaro’s mother, and their deteriorating relationship meant Alvaro had been living with his maternal grandparents.