In a world full of secrets and lies, there are always unexpected events that reveal a person’s true nature. There are secrets that no matter how hard they try to hide, will eventually come out. And this is what happened to Denise Montalban, a 26-year-old call center employee in Ortigas. Denise was known to be a hard-working, polite person and had never been involved in any conflicts or scandals. However, the events that were about to unfold completely changed the way people viewed her, especially her boyfriend, Clyde Imperial, 28.
On February 6, 2017, at 2 a.m., Denise sent her last text message to Clyde after her night shift. For Clyde, it was just a normal conversation before going to bed, not knowing that this would be the last time he would talk to her. By February 7, Clyde noticed an unusual silence from Denise. No text messages, no updates from work, while she usually responded quickly. Clyde quickly called Denise’s friend, April, but there was no information. Even the landlord of the boarding house where Denise was staying said that she had not returned home.
Clyde began to worry. He understood Denise’s habits: from work, to boarding house, to going out with friends, she had never gone alone. He did not want to panic, but his worries grew. Three days passed, there was still no sign of contact from Denise, her phone was off, and her family began to worry. On February 10, her family officially reported her missing along with Clyde at the police station.
During the investigation, the police questioned Clyde because he was the last person to contact Denise. He explained that he had done nothing wrong, but some members of Denise’s family were skeptical. As his anxiety grew, Clyde decided to investigate. He visited Denise’s friends and neighbors, where he discovered an unusual piece of information: she had been seen getting into a black SUV with a strange man, something Clyde had never known before.
Curiosity led Clyde to the laptop Denise had left in her room. He tried opening it with their anniversary as the password and succeeded. At first, everything seemed normal, but when he checked the browser history and emails, Clyde discovered conversations with a user named Jay Stalon. The emails gradually revealed a completely different world that Denise was involved in – exchanges of suggestions, agreements, and scheduling of paid meetings. He discovered that a total of 22,500 pesos had been transferred to Denise’s account in the weeks before she disappeared.
Instead of panicking and giving up, Clyde decided to follow the trail. He asked a tech-savvy friend to track down Jay Stalon’s IP address, which led to the discovery that the man behind it was Chase Talon, who lived in a mansion in Alabang. This was a wealthy area, completely different from Denise’s normal life, which added to the mystery.
Clyde brought this information to the police, and from there the Alabang address became the main line of investigation. Neighborhood records showed that the house was owned by James and Alona Yatko, a couple in their 50s who had lived in the US and had returned to the Philippines in 2012. They were small business owners, lived quietly, and had no criminal record.
Once the police had enough evidence from emails, wire transfers, and IP addresses, they applied for a search warrant. On the day of the search, the police showed up at the house early and asked the Yatkos to cooperate. From the outside, the house looked clean and normal, but when they checked the backyard, they discovered an unnaturally covered area. After digging, they found pieces of cloth, bones, and finally the remains of a woman. The clothes were confirmed to belong to Denise.
DNA confirmed the identity as Denise Montalban. The family and Clyde were devastated, but questions about the Yatkos’ reasons and motives remained. Through investigation, a completely different picture was revealed: James and Alona had maintained relationships with several people that involved payment agreements to satisfy their personal interests. Denise, through an online platform, had been known and participated in these agreements. During their last meeting, an incident occurred that left Denise seriously injured and dead. Fearing the truth would be exposed, the Yatkos hid the body, did not seek help, and tried to cover their tracks.
When the case went to trial, the evidence clearly pointed to the Yatkos as the prime suspects. They argued that the death was an accident, but the failure to report it and the concealment of the body resulted in four years in prison for each of them. Denise’s story was controversial: some said she “put herself in this position,” but others argued that no one had the right to judge someone who had no chance to defend herself.
Meanwhile, Clyde struggled with mixed emotions: anger at being lied to and grief over losing Denise. Two years later, he slowly recovered and met 24-year-old Anna Jane Manalo, a primary school teacher, at a community event. Anna was gentle, listened, and did not press Clyde to tell his story.
past. Their relationship developed naturally, bringing him peace.
In 2023, Clyde and Anna got married in a simple but happy wedding. Just a few months later, they welcomed their first child, making their life more complete. Clyde’s past wounds gradually healed, and he realized that life is not just determined by a mistake or a tragedy, but also by the decision to choose the light and the opportunity to start over.
Denise’s story remains a reminder of the risks in life, of secrets that can have unpredictable consequences. But for Clyde, it is also proof that even in the greatest pain, people can still find new peace and happiness. It is not the tragedy, but the choice to stand up and continue living that shaped his future.
