(Trinidad Express) Thirteen days after a family of four, including a one-year-old girl, went missing in Brasso Seco, the bodies of a woman and a baby were discovered in a bag off a precipice yesterday.
The bodies were found less than four miles from the family’s home.
Police reports stated that officers of the North Eastern Division, aided by personnel from the Canine Unit, Blanchisseuse Police Station, T&T Defence Force, Anti-Kidnapping Unit, Crime Scene Recovery Unit and Homicide Bureau of Investigation, all under the supervision of the National Operations Centre, resumed their search for Irma Rampersad, 48, her daughters Felicia “Chinky” Gonzales, 17, a pupil of Malabar Secondary School, Jenelle “Cookie” Gonzales, 19, and one-year-old Shania Amoroso, who have all been missing since October 26.
Shortly after midday yesterday, while in a forested area off the Paria Main Road approximately four miles from the home of the missing relatives, one of the search parties detected a stench.
The search party followed the scent which led them to a precipice a short distance from the main road.
When the officers looked down, they observed what looked like a dark blanket, with what appeared to be a human body partly exposed. The search party made a closer examination and found that the body appeared to be that of a woman.
They notified their superiors and the immediate vicinity of the find was contained.
Police set up roadblocks along the main road at two points, questioning drivers and occupants of vehicles coming into and exiting the Brasso Seco community.
When the Sunday Express arrived, several officers were observed at the bottom of the precipice exchanging information with one another whilst awaiting the arrival of Crime Scene Unit officers.
Sources said the officers wanted to ensure that the scene was preserved.
The Sunday Express attempted to get closer to the scene, however, officers were adamant about not going in further.
At this time, officers also searched Express reporter Gyasi Gonzales and TV6 camerawoman Keri Patrick, as well as the vehicle they arrived in, out of “an abundance of caution”.
Crime Scene investigators arrived and after examining the bag and the body it was discovered that the body of a baby was also in the bag. Both bodies, police said, were partially decomposed.
Officers immediately expanded their search and a short distance away they discovered a burnt wooden house in the forest. Based on their observations, sources said, police believe the house may have been set on fire a few days after the family went missing.
The officers remained on the scene well into the afternoon, and up to last night were still searching the forested area.
Police sources emphasised yesterday that the discovery of the decomposing bodies were not direct evidence that any of the missing four relatives had been found.
They said relatives of Irma Rampersad and her family would have to view the two bodies within the next 48 hours in an attempt to identify the bodies, failing which, DNA samples may have to be secured and tested to confirm their identities.
Speaking to the Sunday Express yesterday, one of Rampersad’s daughters confirmed they had received “certain information” which had left them concerned.
“Yes well, we spoke to investigators and from what they told me, they said that they found the body of a child and a woman off a precipice. We have to go identify them, I think either tomorrow or Monday, I’m not sure. But from what they said, they tell me for sure that it’s the baby but they don’t know which one the woman is. They said the body was too badly decomposed, but they did tell me that the woman’s body had a ring by her navel.
So since we were told that, this evening I’m getting the family together, so we could tell them together instead of them finding out via television or phone calls from villagers or whatnot. Cause all of Mommy’s siblings right now don’t know what happened. I don’t even know how to break the news to them. Personally, I had prepared myself from the beginning for this possibility, but…I just don’t know. And then they said that they have to search near the body again tomorrow to see if the other two there…I just don’t know,” explained Rampersad’s daughter who asked not to be identified.
When contacted, Rampersad’s husband Peter Sylvester said he had heard rumours about what had happened but up to 5 p.m. he had yet to be contacted by the police.
When the Sunday Express tried again at 6 p.m. Sylvester said he was speaking to officers and to call him back later.
Subsequent calls to his phone went unanswered.
