The charred remains of a Bartica mother and her two daughters were discovered under the rubble of their dwelling after it was allegedly set on fire by her reputed husband on Saturday night.
Dead are Carolina Kennedy, 48, and her two daughters, Marianna Downer, 5 and Gabriella Kennedy, 3.
The fire occurred just around 10.30 pm at their #4 Miles Squatting Area, Bartica, Cuyuni/Mazaruni home.
The suspect who is the husband of the woman and father of the children has been arrested and was escorted to seek medical attention.
The suspect has been identified as 36-year-old Kenford Downer called ‘Tallman’, 36, the police say.
Police in a statement yesterday said the suspect fled the scene after reportedly committing the act. However, the police acting on information received conducted a search in nearby bushes situated close to the house and he was apprehended. He sustained minor burns to his feet and was escorted to the Bartica Hospital where he was admitted for treatment under police guard.
The suspect reportedly related to the police that he had arrived home and overheard Carolina speaking to a man who he suspected she was having an affair with. As a result, he became angry and proceeded to the back of the house where he doused it with gasoline and set it alight.
Reports are that ranks on duty at the Bartica Police Station received a call informing them of the fire. As a result, the police and the Guyana Fire Service responded.
The remains of Carolina and her two children were subsequently discovered among the ashes.
Yesterday, the community of Bartica was in a state of shock as many tried to come to grips with the deaths.
The youngest sister of Carolina, Diana Kennedy told this newspaper that her family is still in disbelief over the events that occurred.
Speaking to Stabroek News via phone last night the sister recalled that she was at home when her brother who was passing on the street told her their sister’s home was on fire.
“For some reason I couldn’t sleep last night I went to bed and keep getting up… then my brother pass and tell me we sister house on fire. I said `what!’ and I run out the house and go there because she lives behind me and when I reach the whole house was on fire,” the sister recounted.
She went on to explain that when she arrived on the scene she started to ask frantically about her sister and two daughters but no one knew where they were.
“We calling and calling, hollering out for them but nobody answer. We checked in the bushes all for them to see if they were hiding from `Tall Man’ but we couldn’t find them… when the fire done somebody holler out they under the zinc and burnt wood,” the sister added.
When the discovery was made, Diana said there was nothing she could have done and she was shocked to learn her sister and nieces were horrifically killed.
“You cut me and you wouldn’t have find blood when I see them there. I started screaming because I didn’t expect to see them there. I was hoping they were hiding somewhere,” she said.
The woman said while they were on the scene she learnt the suspect had been caught and had burns on his foot. It is believed that while escaping from the house after setting it alight he sustained the injuries. Residents assisted in his capture.
Verbally abused
Asked if Carolina was part of an abusive relationship, the sister responded in the affirmative and said that the episodes of abuse were mainly emotional and verbal.
“He never hit her or so but whenever he drinks and go home he always abuse her. If she is not home when he reaches home they get into quarrels. We had eased up speaking because they were always fighting about where she goes and so,” the sister said.
According to Diana, the suspect was imprisoned for a brief period after he was charged for abusing her sister and they were separated. However, they rekindled their relationship recently and began living together.
However, the abuse continued and recently she said her sister informed their mother that the suspect had threatened to burn her and the children in the house.
“This seems premeditated because he had told her he will burn them in the house and he did that. We were told by persons on the road that when he was walking home last night (Saturday) he kept saying he was `fed up’”, the sister related.
Mayor of Bartica, Gifford Marshall told Stabroek News this is the second barbaric act to have occurred in the township in 14 days. The first was the rape of a minor.
He noted that from what he has gathered the suspects are victims of a troubled past and social and mental health programmes need to be crafted to help local communities to address these situations.
In his Facebook post on Saturday night, he said “What I witnessed was beyond comprehension. Little Mariana Downer 5- years-old and her sister 3-year-old, Gabriella Kennedy, did not deserve to die the way they did. Their mom Caroline Kennedy, I’m certain was looking forward to spending the holidays with her dear daughters. Like Mariana and Gabriella, she did not deserve to die in that tragic manner. It is cruel and heartless to kill your spouse, but a father who kills his daughters is not human.”
