The police on the Essequibo Coast are investigating the deaths of a 22-year-old woman and her two-year-old child after their bodies were discovered by neighbours at around 9am yesterday.
Dead is Attica Sukhai and her daughter Xolani Sukhai of Grant Exper-ience, Lower Pomeroon River.
The woman is reportedly a resident of Charity but recently moved to the Pomeroon River with her two children.
Speaking with Stabroek News, the sister of the dead woman who opted to remain anonymous said that she received a telephone call at around 9:30am informing her that her sister and niece had drowned.
“When I got to the scene, I saw her body face down by the river flat amongst coconut husk and her hand was eaten away and part of her face by piranhas.
There was also a big laceration to the left side of her chest which looked fresh. The dress that she was wearing was pulled up to her neck but she still had her undergarments on.
After walking around the house where my sister lived with her 2-year-old daughter and her nine- months-old baby, I saw a cigarette lighter with blood on it and a cigarette at the back entrance to the house and there was also a male jersey and marijuana.
The woman said that she also noticed that the bags that her sister used from the previous day were still packed and in the house and said that she has no knowledge that her sister smoked or used drugs.
“It seemed as if Attica went to the stelling to bathe her children because both children were naked and there was a tub of clothing at the stelling. I cannot say what happened because I was not there but it sure looks as if my sister was murdered.
“Little Xolani apparently rolled off of the stelling because she was found in some bushes at the river corner not far from where her mother was. Thankfully, Allicia, (the nine-month-old baby) was alive when the neighbours saw her because her foot was hooked between two wood in the stelling so that stopped her from rolling overboard.
After the discovery this morning, the baby was in the care of the neighbours but we took her to the hospital and she is doing well in spite of having a slight fever.
“My mother on the other hand is hospitalised suffering from cramps and high pressure. I really hope that proper police investigations can be conducted into the matter by the police.”
One neighbour of Sukhai told this newspaper that no suspicious noises were heard during the course of the night and it came as a shock to neighbours when the bodies were discovered.
“Going to nine this morning, another neighbour was passing to go to church when they saw the little baby on the stelling. They stop to see why the baby was alone and that is when they saw Attica and the other child.
They start calling for us and the family and the police were informed.”
When the police arrived on the scene, the body of Attica was turned over and her face was completely eaten by piranhas. Her 2-year-old daughter who was found nearby had no marks on her.
The bodies were wrapped and transported to Charity then to the Suddie Mortuary where they are awaiting post-mortem examinations.
According to information, no one is in police custody. Sukhai’s reputed husband is in the interior.
Police investigations are ongoing.
