Police are investigating a mid-morning robbery in which an 88-year-old US-based Guyanese was stabbed in the chest.
Ayona Stugger of 55 Plum Park, Sophia was stabbed in the right side of her chest by an intruder who also attempted to strangle her with an elastic cord.
According to the woman’s nephew, James Trim, his aunt was at home alone at the time of the robbery. He said he and his two children along with his wife live at the same address.
The man, who is a brush cutter by profession, said that he went out to work and returned home around 9:30 yesterday morning to find his hapless aunt at the bottom of the stairs with blood streaming down her clothes. He said she asked him for some water and then related her ordeal.
He said his aunt told him that a young man who is known to the family, went knocking at the door to purchase some ice with a $500 bill. He said even though he had warned his aunt not to open the door to anyone, she opened the door to the man and went to find change for him. She said the man then pounced on her dragging her around the house and asking her for jewellery and money.
Trim said that when his aunt refused the man’s orders he attempted to strangle her with the cord, then picked up a knife and stabbed her in her chest. Trim said that because his aunt could identify the man, this may have caused him to try to take her life. He said the intruder left a hat along with a pair of slippers behind as he made good his escape.
Trim said his aunt only returned to Guyana on Mother’s Day and she was scheduled to return to the US on Sunday. He said the intruder took approximately US$300 along with a quantity of jewellery.
The man also related that intruder may have planned the attack since early yesterday morning after he and his wife left for work. He said he had learned that the man enquired from his two children on several occasions when they would be leaving the house for school. He said the man even called the landline phone prior to his children leaving for school in an attempt to see who would answer the phone.
Neighbours recalled hearing nothing unusual at the home yesterday morning. They said the intruder may have planned the robbery since the woman was home alone yesterday.
When Stabroek News visited the woman at the hospital yesterday she was being comforted by relatives. Her condition was listed as stable.
Police are hunting for the suspect.
