On May 16, 2015, around 5 PM, a post began circulating on Facebook about a missing girl named Angeline in Bali. It was shared by her god-sister, Christina, who lived in the United States. Another god-sister, Yvon, printed posters and desperately tried to find her.

Within hours, the search for Angeline went viral—not just in Bali, but across all of Indonesia. People followed the updates, praying for a miracle. Along with the tension came a flood of questions. Neighbors began discussing how the child was treated in the household—how she was often alone, how cries could be heard from behind the locked gate, and how fearful she always seemed.

Some had noticed signs of physical abuse. Others had overheard disturbing things being said or done to her. Her foster mother, 70-year-old Margaret Christina Migawe, had told the world how much Angeline meant to her. But during the investigation, her actions didn’t match her words—it was as if this wasn’t her missing child at all, as if she didn’t care.

Nearly a month later, on June 10, 2015, a major update broke. Police discovered a small corpse buried in the backyard of the house in Sedap Malam, Denpasar—right in the yard where Angeline used to play. She had been buried under trash, decomposing alone.

The entire country went into mourning. Two people were arrested: the household helper Agus Tay Hamba, and the woman who once adopted Angeline, Margaret Christina Migawe.

So who was Angeline? What really happened behind closed doors? And how did a child, once a blessing, become the center of a national tragedy that pierced millions of hearts?

Angeline was born on May 19, 2007, in a small clinic in Canggu. Her biological mother, Hamida, was only 15 when she left their village in Banyuwangi in search of work. Driven by poverty and hope, she met Ahmad Rosidi, a construction worker. They married and started a family.

But by the time their third child was born, the marriage had collapsed and the children were split apart. The eldest, Ina, stayed with Ahmad’s family. The middle child, Aishaya, remained with her grandmother. But where was Angeline?

To answer that, we must go back. Even before Angeline was born, Hamida was already struggling. She couldn’t afford nutritious food or hospital costs. Tearfully desperate at the clinic, she was introduced to a woman named Margaret Christina Migawe.

Margaret offered to pay Hamida’s hospital bills and cover her medical care after the birth—but in exchange, she wanted to adopt the baby. Together with her husband, Douglas Carboro, Margaret visited Hamida. She gave her Rp800,000 (around PHP 2,700) and later another Rp1 million (PHP 3,400) after the birth.

Just three days later, before Hamida even had a chance to name her child, the baby was taken. Margaret named her Angeline. Douglas didn’t sign any official adoption papers. The adoption was never processed by the court. There was only a notarized note signed on May 24, 2007, granting Margaret parental rights—with conditions: she must love Angeline as her own and name her as an heir. If anything happened to the child, her share would pass to the other heirs. Hamida and Ahmad were forbidden from seeing their daughter until she turned 18.

At first, it seemed Angeline grew up happy. People were charmed by her bright smile and sparkling eyes. In the Migawe family, she became the youngest sibling to two older foster sisters, Yvon (47) and Christina (38). At home, she learned English quickly from Margaret. She was curious, playful, and intelligent—bringing joy wherever she went.

But everything changed when Douglas died on September 17, 2008. Margaret was devastated. She sank into depression and couldn’t focus or think clearly. But instead of seeking help or speaking to others, she turned inward—and eventually directed her pain toward Angeline.

Margaret began ordering Angeline to clean the house, mop the floors, do laundry, and feed their chickens, dogs, and cats. Even small mistakes brought cruel punishments: a slap or worse. Angeline was only eight years old, small for her age, but her chores were endless—especially caring for dozens of chickens kept in sheds full of feathers and waste.

Sometimes, she forgot to feed some chickens, and when that happened, Margaret not only scolded her but physically harmed her. At school, Angeline’s teachers noticed changes. She stopped smiling. Once a cheerful child, she now stared blankly into space and sometimes fell asleep during class. Each week, she grew thinner.

One day, classmates reported a foul smell. A teacher discovered chicken feces in Angeline’s hair and bathed her at school—something a child should never have to endure. When asked about her daily routine, Angeline said she cleaned the house, fed animals, and prepared her own lunch before walking nearly 2 km to school, often crossing rice fields.

She arrived sweating and sometimes hungry but never asked for food—too afraid. Margaret claimed Angeline refused to eat and only wanted milk. But when the teachers offered her a hot meal, she devoured everything. The school knew something was wrong.

The principal offered to adopt Angeline, but Margaret refused, saying Angeline had responsibilities at home and insisting there was no abuse—only love and discipline. The teachers didn’t believe her. They reported the case to the National Child Protection Commission. A team visited the home and were met with the stench of chickens. In the backyard were cages lined up. Angeline’s room was a tiny, dark, trash-filled space with a window facing the chicken coop.

When they suggested protective custody, Margaret exploded—threatening to kill anyone who tried to take Angeline. As the search intensified, even high-ranking government officials tried to visit, but Margaret turned them away.

Many hoped Angeline had simply run away. But the truth was far darker.

A neighbor claimed Margaret and Angeline seemed like a normal mother and child. Margaret’s lawyer said she loved the child deeply, even naming her after her late mother. But if that was her idea of love, it was horribly twisted.

When Angeline was declared missing online, the story exploded. Yvon claimed she last saw Angeline playing in the garden at 3 PM and began searching until 6 PM before calling police. Investigators reviewed CCTV but found no evidence of Angeline leaving the area.

But Margaret’s behavior raised red flags. She was frantic, hostile to police, and guarded a locked room no one could enter without her permission. When search dogs were released, they ignored everything else and ran directly to a corner near the chicken coop and banana tree.

On June 10, 2015, investigators dug in that corner and found a horrifying sight. Beneath trash and chicken feathers lay Angeline’s body—half-decomposed, her skin bruised and pale, still clutching her favorite doll.

The nation was crushed. Angeline’s body was sent for autopsy. She had been dead for three weeks. Her body showed signs of severe abuse: facial injuries, cigarette burns, ligature marks on her wrists, and a fatal blow to her head causing brain hemorrhage.

She was buried in her mother’s hometown in Banyuwangi, far from the chaos of Denpasar.

The investigation pointed to two suspects: Margaret and the helper Agus. Under pressure, Agus confessed—saying he beat and killed Angeline on May 16, just days before her birthday. But his story was inconsistent.

Eventually, he changed his account: he said Margaret had killed Angeline, and he only helped cover it up. Forensic evidence backed him up.

According to Agus, Margaret dragged Angeline by the hair, slapped and punched her repeatedly until she hit furniture and collapsed. When Angeline lay barely breathing, Margaret calmly called Agus, told him to bring a blanket, rope, and her doll—then ordered him to undress and rape the girl. He refused.

Margaret coldly lit a cigarette, pressed it to Angeline’s skin, and instructed Agus to dig a shallow grave. They buried Angeline’s body and disguised it with chicken feed and garbage.

Margaret then went door to door pretending to look for her missing child. On June 14, 2015, she was officially named a suspect.

In February 2016, prosecutors declared money as her motive. Angeline was listed as an heir. After Douglas died, Margaret feared Angeline would inherit too much and acted on her paranoia.

The court found no clear forensic proof of sexual abuse despite early suggestions and Agus’ inconsistent testimony.

Agus was sentenced to 12 years in prison and fined Rp1 billion for helping hide the crime and failing to protect Angeline. Margaret was sentenced to life imprisonment. Both appeals were denied. The case was officially closed in February 2017.

On December 6, 2024, news broke that Margaret had died. She had battled chronic kidney failure and died in prison after months of dialysis.