Police in the Northern Marianas believe burglary was the motive in the murder of two women shot to death at a Saipan restaurant last Friday.
The Rice Cake Best Food Restaurant. Photo: Mark Rabago
That comes as the Department of Public Safety said the shoulder bags of the victims, Li Na Lim, 43, the Korean owner of the business, and baker Linhua Cui, 53, a Chinese-Korean, were missing.
Police said individuals close to the victims told police that both women always carried their shoulder bags with them.
Police were also reviewing surveillance footage from the neighbourhood.
The two were found lying in a pool of blood early on Friday morning inside the Rice Cake Best Food Restaurant.