''I just knew something had happened her."
Jastine Valdez's Mother has said she had a "gut feeling something terribly wrong had happened" when her daughter didn't return home on May 19th of this year.
Speaking in their first interview since Jastine's death, parents Danilo (Danny) and Teresita (Tess) Valdez told RTE Radio One they're still in shock since her murder.
They also explained how they are "disappointed" that her killer, Mark Hennessy, was killed so quickly, because it leaves so many questions unanswered.
Filipino student Jastine Valdez (24) was abducted and murdered by Hennessy on just over three months ago.
She had moved to Ireland to join her parents three years ago.
In the interview, Mr and Mrs Valdez revealed they had come to Ireland in the 1990s, sending their wages home to their family with the hope that they could provide for all their daughter's "hopes and dreams."
"When she didn't come home by around 7.30 in the evening I knew there was sort of a gut feeling in me that I knew that was something wrong, something terribly wrong had happened," Tess told RTE Radio One, speaking through an interpreter at times.
"I don't know what exactly what happened then, I kept on collapsing when I knew something was wrong, I couldn't remember much from the time, I just knew something had happened her."
Speaking about the evening Jastine went missing, Tess said she had always kept her promise about what time she would be home.
"I was at work at the time and Danny was on his way home, I asked him to check where Jastine was and he said she's not home yet.
"I tried calling her many times but she wasn't picking up.
"We kept calling, no answer. I got a bit worried because she agreed she should be home at 5.30 but she wasn't home yet so I started to get very worried.
"She always told me the time she was coming home.
"I started worrying. I tried calling Danny at home because I was still in work. He tried to check outside the gate.
"I just sat down in our bedroom to pray a little bit, that hopefully she would come back.
"I didn't watch the TV, we called straightaway to the gardaí, to tell them that my daughter did not arrive home at the time she said.
"The garda asked me the details, what time did she leave, where did she go, what was she wearing.
"When I went to the gardaí and told them my daughter was missing, they promised me they would find her, 100pc they would find her."
She added; "It's unbelievable, we can't believe that's what happened."
Tragic news
It was 3pm on the Monday that they received a call to the door, informing them her body had been found.
"The gardaí came to our house to tell us they found her body," Tess said.
"I'm keeping crying, I don't know what I'm doing."
She continued; "The gardaí were very helpful and very kind.
"It was on Monday that we were informed that Mark Hennessy was the one who murdered Jastine. At 10 in the morning we were informed.
"Indeed that didn't help [Hennessy's death], it didn't ease the pain that Mark had been killed.
"We didn't like that he was killed, it didn't change anything.
"When we found out he was killed it didn't ease the pain, it didn't matter, Jastine was gone, we were also sad he had passed away.
"We felt bad that he was killed quite quickly because we wanted to find out what was running in his head.
"We were disappointed he was killed, there were a lot of questions in our mind, we wanted to know more about why he wanted to do such a terrible thing."
Danny added; "We couldn't stop crying, we couldn't eat, we just didn't know what to do, we couldn't believe what had happened."
Heartwarming letter
To conclude the interview, the couple read a heartwarming letter they found in Jastine's belongings that she had written to her parents.
"To my mum and dad.
"I don't know how to express the words, I love you right from the bottom of my heart.
"Words aren't enough to let you know how much I love and care for you.`
"It's hard for me to express. I hope this simple letter of mine is appreciated.
"The words are real, I really mean it.
"I'm so lucky to have you as part of my life.
"Because of you, I have overcome all the trials in my life.
"Without you my life now would be a mess.
"You are always here to guide protect and give all what I want."
If you wish to donate to the Valdez family, you can do so HERE
