(Trinidad Guardian) The search for missing local model, actress and brand promotions representative Vanna Girod, fondly called Vanna Vee, ended tragically on Wednesday after her body was found near a beach in Arnos Vale in Tobago.
The 30-year-old woman was last seen at her aunt’s villa at about 5 pm on Tuesday.
Upon nightfall and when she did not return her aunt contacted close relatives who immediately launched a search for her. An official report was also lodged at the Shirvan Road Police Station.
Early yesterday morning, other close relatives and friends flew out from Trinidad to Tobago to join the search that was led by her brother Dillon.
During the search Girod’s clothes—a track pants and a sweater was found neatly folded and placed along a trail. At about midday her body was discovered.
At the scene Girod’s father, James was inconsolable.
At his home at Butu Road, Valsayn South, neighbours and known landscapers extended condolences to the Girod family adding that they were in shock over the tragic news given the fact that Girod’s father was a survivor of a brutal attack on himself and his family in the 1980s.
Speaking with the Guardian Media during a visit in the area after news that Girod’s body was found, a neighbour’s landscaper for the past 46 years said initially they feared that the young woman was kidnapped.
“In our Valsayn WhatsApp chat group it did show up that it may have been a kidnapping and then later on today (yesterday) they said that her body was found. They’re saying the cause is yet to be known, the landscaper said.
“But knowing what the family went through that death is real hard and a real shocker to all of us. We didn’t really know that Mr Girod had a big daughter until this news here,” he added.
It was reported that James Girod lost his wife and child in a kidnap and murder incident back in the 1980s.
It was reported that Leslie Ann Girod was raped and bludgeoned to death and her baby, Gregg, who was six months old at the time, was decapitated.
James, who had his throat slit survived the attack. Lincoln Guerra and Brian Wallen were subsequently convicted of the murders and sentenced to death in 1989.
A close family friend, identified as Marlon Jeffers, described this latest tragedy as a “double whammy” for James.
In extending condolences, Jeffers said he is reeling in shock.
He said, “What makes it harder is that I’m wondering how he (James) is going to take that knowing what he went through in the past because it’s like a double whammy for him.”
“I knew Vanna as a very talented young lady, vivacious, that’s how I knew her,” Jeffers added.
Efforts to reach Girod’s brother Dillon for comment proved futile as all calls went straight to voice mail, however, police sources said they were told by close relatives on the scene that Girod lived with her grandparents in Maraval and was believed to be going through a period of depression and had gone to Tobago on Saturday to spend time with her aunt.
