A missing teenage girl was found dead in Panabo City, Davao del Norte on March 1.
Police identified the victim as Ashlee, 14.
Investigation said the victim, a Grade 9 student, was last seen talking to her stepfather, Alex, outside the Panabo National High School.
The victim was reported missing to the police by her father when she failed to go home from school on Feb. 28.
Follow-up investigation found out that the victim was also seen with her stepfather in his property in Barangay Little Panay.
Police went to the area and discovered a freshly dug hole and unearthed the body of the victim.
The suspect was apprehended and reportedly admitted to killing the victim by strangling her. He then buried her in the shallow pit.
Crime scene investigators will conduct an autopsy on the victim to determine the cause of death and find out if she was also raped.
Panabo Mayor Jose Relampagos has condemned the killing.
The suspect is detained at the Panabo City police station.