Unsolved Mysteries x Filipino ghost story
When I was a kid my kuyas and ates (older cousins) would watch episodes of Unsolved Mysteries, a show about unsolved crimes and phenomena. Although I’m older now the theme song still creeps me out. What creeps me out even more is the following solved (but still mysterious) case of a Filipina from Chicago.
Above is the introduction to a Unsolved Mysteries episode featuring a story on the murder of Filipina respiratory therapist Teresita Basa on February 21, 1977 in Chicago. Although the case was solved, what remains unsolved is the bizarre way in which detectives obtained the killer. Apparently via the possession of a woman by the ghost of Teresita Basa herself.
According to this article in the June 1978 issue of Ebony, Teresita’s body was found under a burning mattress after neighbors complained of smoke coming from her apartment. After 5 months of investigation, detective Joe Stachula of the Chicago police department had been running out of leads until he received a call from the Evanston police department just north of Chicago.
Evanston police referred detective Stacula to a Filipino couple named Mr. and Mrs. Borda (false names were used in the Unsolved Mysteries segment). Mrs. Borda worked at the same hospital as Teresita Basa, but mentioned that although they met during an orientation session at the hospital, they worked different shifts thereafter and were never close friends. Stacula noted that the Bordas were “at first, reluctant to talk to me, and indicated they did not want to be involved.” Stacula would soon find out why as Mr. Borda, after much hesitation and disclosing his own disbelief of the matter, explained that his wife had been experiencing bizarre hallucinations involving both visions of and possessions by the late Teresita Basa herself.
“…he {Dr. Borda} had never heard of Teresita Basa, nor had he been aware of her murder until recently when his wife unexplainably got up from a chair in the front room of their home and went into the bedroom. He told Stachula that he asked whether anything was the matter. The strange voice replied in Tagalog, ‘Ako ‘y {I am} Teresita Basa.'” Dr. Borda went on to explain that the voice stated the name of her murderer to be a “Allan Showery.” After 2 more instances of these “possessions”, the Bordas then decided to notify the local police.
To test Dr. Borda’s statement, Stachula asked him if the “voice” had explained whether or not Teresita Basa was raped, knowing forensic evidence deemed that she wasn’t. Dr. Borda verified that the voice never mentioned anything about a rape and on top of that, the “voice” added that specific pieces of jewelry had been stolen from the apartment, a pearl cocktail ring and a jade pendant. The “voice” indicated that both pieces of jewelry had been given by Allan Showery to his girlfriend.
Stacula looked up the name “Allan Showery” and found not only did he have a criminal record but that he too was an employee at the same hospital Teresita Basa had worked. Upon approaching Allan Showery Stacula observed he had been fully cooperative and said that he did not kill Teresita Basa, giving an alibi noting he was indeed present at the apartment the night of the murder to fix Teresita Basa’s television but went home immediately after.
Suspicious, Stacula then interviewed Showery’s girlfriend who was then asked about any jewelry Allan Showery may have given her. She mentioned a pearl cocktail ring and a jade pendant given to her as a “belated Christmas” gift. The jewelry was identified by Teresita Basa’s relatives and friends, and when presented with this evidence, Allan Showery confessed to the murder and explained what really happened.
Robert Stack, the host of Unsolved Mysteries ends the segment with the following message:
“Is it somehow possible that Teresita Basa could have spoken through Alicia Borda to catch her own killer? One thing is certain, without the information Alicia provided police would never have known that jewelry was missing, and Allan Showery would never have been arrested.”
Mga links
- Episode synopsis on Wikia.
- “Accused of murder by a voice from the grave“. June 1978 issue of Ebony. By John O’Brien and Edward Baumann.
- “A Killer’s Deed Comes Back to Haunt“. More Chicago haunts: scenes from myth and memory. By Ursula Bielski.