A Harare-based female traffic police officer and her family were left stunned on Sunday morning when they discovered an empty coffin, splattered with blood, dumped in their yard.

Hatfield police confirmed the mysterious incident in a report sent to the Officer Commanding Chitungwiza Police District.

Eronia Payesa, a 42-year-old Constable with Harare CBD Traffic, resides in the New Msasa suburb, where the eerie event occurred. Her husband, Dumisani Mahahani, later reported the incident to Hatfield police.

According to authorities, the family had gone to bed on Saturday night, with their 10-year-old son, Tinashe Mahahani, being the last to enter the yard at around 6:30 PM after returning from school. Police noted that Tinashe forgot to lock the gate.

The shocking discovery was made by Lauren Simango, 34, who was up early to clean the yard. She found the coffin, measuring 160cm by 57cm, placed near the gate but inside the yard.

Upon inspection, police confirmed that the coffin was open, with blood splattered inside. Detectives from the CID Forensic Unit were called to investigate the scene further.