The decomposed body which was found in a trench at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara on Friday has been positively identified as missing Mahaicony resident, Linden Adolphus Tappin.
The 51-year-old Tappin of Airy Hall, Mahaicony was positively identified yesterday morning by his brother, Eric Tappin.
While it is suspected that he was murdered, as there was a gaping wound to his head and his intestines were protruding, the police are awaiting the results of an autopsy to determine his cause of death.
Reports are that around 3.30 pm on Friday, public-spirited citizens saw the body in the trench and alerted the police.
At the time of the discovery, the body was covered in mud.
Eric Tappin said yesterday that his brother was a psychiatric patient and he last saw him alive on Monday when he left home to visit the Georgetown Public Hospital for treatment.
The man explained that while it is customary for his brother to return home afterwards he didn’t on Monday. As a result, several searches and inquiries were made but relatives came up empty handed.
A missing person’s report was filed on Thursday and the family’s worst fears were confirmed yesterday when they received a call from the police informing them of the discovery.
Eric said that based on information he received, his brother had returned to Mahaicony after visiting the hospital on Monday, since he was seen in the area by residents. “After he didn’t return, we didn’t get worried right away because we know a lot of times when he finish at the hospital he would go and visit family members who reside in Georgetown,” Eric said.
However, when they contacted family members, he said, they learned that Linden had not visited any of them on Monday.
The police are investigating and the body is currently at the Lyken’s Funeral Parlour awaiting the post-mortem examination which is scheduled for tomorrow.
