A post-mortem examination (PME) conducted Wednesday on the skeletal remains found in the backdam at New Hope, East Bank Demerara on Monday was inconclusive and DNA samples were taken to aid in positive identification.
It is suspected that the skeleton is that of Devanand Singh of Parfait Harmonie, West Bank Demerara who disappeared on New Year’s Day.
Following the PME, which was conducted by government pathologist Dr Nehaul Singh, the remains were handed over to Singh’s relatives.
One of his sons told Stabroek News that they were told that the cause of death was inconclusive and that there were no marks of violence or signs of injury on the body. Following the discovery relatives had expressed suspicions that there was foul play.
However, as a result of the post-mortem, they indicated to this newspaper that they no longer have those suspicions.
The remains were to have been buried at the Le Repentir cemetery Thursday, after a funeral service.
Police said on Monday that around 12:10 hours, acting on information ranks found the skeletal remains.
It added that the remains were suspected to be Singh’s, who was reported missing on January 2 by a relative with whom he was staying at the time at New Hope.
According to a police statement, Singh was believed to have been mentally unstable and had reportedly left the home on January 1 and was not seen since.
The man’s son Randy had told this newspaper that Singh was a victim of abuse at the hands of the woman he lived with. Last December, he started displaying signs of a nervous breakdown and plans were made to take him for treatment on January 4.
On New Year’s Day the man, his stepson and a man his reputed wife was involved with, turned up at the Alberttown home of Singh’s ex-wife were there were discussions. Later the trio left for the New Hope home of Singh’s reputed wife’s daughter.
Randy said he was told that while engaged in a conversation there, Singh “just run and jump over the fence”.
Then about three weeks later a hunter had told residents a man was lying in the backdam, begging for food and water. However, from all indications, the stepdaughter only received this information on Monday.
A search of the backdam later led to the discovery of the skeleton which was clad only in underwear.
