The decomposing body of an elderly woman was yesterday discovered at Locaber, West Canje, Berbice some 5 days after she had gone missing.
Elma Griffith-Thom, 79, had been reported missing by her nephew, Andrew Griffith, a popular Rose Hall Town promoter, who had sought the media’s intervention in locating his aunt. He said he had last spoken with her on Wednesday last and as far as he knew, she had no health issues.
The woman’s daughter, Cheryl Griffith, who lives in Trinidad and Tobago, travelled back to Guyana and spearheaded a search including printing and handing out flyers. She had said that her mother may have wandered off.
A Bermine Housing Scheme resident, who allegedly saw the woman go down a dam, reportedly told investigators that he had told cane harvesters who normally use that dam to show her back to the main road.
Griffith-Thom was found about three miles from the main access road. She was wearing tights and long black boots. Her handbag, which was found nearby, contained bread, cheese, sugar, $80, a bunch of keys and an umbrella.
A post-mortem examination is to be performed on the body of Griffith-Thom, who previously worked at Central Police Station and the Guyana Prison Service.
