The body of a 56-year-old woman was yesterday pulled from a septic tank outside of a blood-stained Campbellville home and police have detained three persons including a relative as investigations continue.
Dead is Colleen Forrester of West Ruimveldt. Her bloated remains were recovered by police from a septic tank at her overseas-based brother’s home, located at 55 William Street, Campbellville yesterday. She was the caretaker of the home and had resided there since December 2006 along with three grandchildren. A relative, who had begged her to allow him to stay at the home, lived there as well.
Police have since taken into custody the relative, as well as two of his friends. Police in a press release said that following a report by the woman’s granddaughter that she was missing, a search was conducted on the property and the body was found inside the septic tank. The release confirmed that blood stains were found in the building. The release added that Forrester was last seen alive by her granddaughter on December 27.
After the body was discovered at just about 9:55 am yesterday, other relatives were notified and went to the scene. A grieving Marlon Forrester, the dead woman’s son, told Stabroek News that he received the devastating information when his younger brother, Cleon, called him and told him that “something wrong with mommy”.
He said that he immediately went to the site where he saw police and other persons gathered. The man, who was plunged into a state of grief on his 37th birthday yesterday, stated that “I had to beg the police to see she”. He recounted that he went to the septic tank and saw his mother’s body covered with a sheet.
Marlon stated that he had last seen his mother alive on Christmas Eve day. He said that afterwards, the family was told that she had gone to Trinidad with a friend. The grieving man recalled that at the time when he was given that information, he was happy for his mother. “I deh glad foh she, I glad because she does work hard and she woulda get a lil rest. I never imagine that this woulda happen”, he said.
However, after a friend who had come into the country went to see his mother and they were unable to locate her, the family became suspicious and started inquiring around at other relatives. Their attempts to locate their mother were unsuccessful. “We tell weself is something amiss, she wouldn’t go nowhere and tell nobody”, Marlon asserted.
He said that on Saturday night, he and his brother went to the Campbellville home to see if she was there. He revealed that he had seen the relative and two other persons coming out of the house. He said that they went inside but nothing seemed strange and shortly after, they left the property.
The man recounted that the relative had begged his mother to stay there saying that he had no place else to reside. Marlon said that he later learnt from his mother that the man had attempted to borrow money from her saying that she had received some US dollars. He recalled that because of the man’s habits and after he used to hold parties at the home, his mother was going to ask him to leave.
This newspaper was told by other relatives that Colleen had attended the Main Street Lime on Boxing Day. Upon her return home in the early hours of the next morning she reportedly told her 11-year-old granddaughter to fetch water from downstairs. While downstairs, the granddaughter reportedly heard a scream and after she came upstairs, the relative, who was present with his friends, told her to go and purchase some sugar. This was at about 2 am in the morning. It was stated that upon returning home the girl saw the relative cleaning up some blood and he reportedly told her that he had cut himself. The wardrobe had been turned around and he allegedly told her that her grandmother had gone to Trinidad. She communicated this to other relatives.
After being unable to locate the woman, a report was made to the police yesterday and the search was conducted and the body discovered.
Marlon noted that his mother was also a domestic worker and had helped to look after elderly persons. “She is a very good and loving person
