Police are investigating the murder of Patricia Bovell, an 89-year-old of Lot 57 Russell Street, Charlestown, Georgetown and her grandson is in custody.
Bovell’s body was found in a garbage heap near to her home.
The murder is believed to have occurred between 19th March 2023 and 22nd March 2023 at Russell Street between Broad and Howes streets.
The police say that enquiries disclosed that on Sunday at about 9.05 pm, Yolanda James, a 32-year-old niece of the deceased woman, visited the home but did not see her. James said she enquired from Yonnic Gilpin, Bovell’s 27-year-old grandson as to the whereabouts of Bovell and he told her that he took her to Georgetown Public Hospital because she was feeling unwell.
Based on that information, the police said that James made checks at GPHC but Bovell could not be found at the hospital. As a result, she made a missing person’s report at the Ruimveldt Police Station. The Police conducted investigations and Gilpin was arrested in relation to the missing person report.
According to the police, Gilpin was interviewed and related that on 19th March 2023 at about 4 am, Bovell took ill. He said he took her to the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) using a passing taxi. Checks were made at the hospital by the Police which revealed that Bovell was never at GPHC as stated by Gilpin.
As a result, the Police canvassed the area at Russell Street and received information from neighbours that they heard screams of ‘murder’ coming from the deceased’s residence on 19th March 2023 at about 4 am. Neighbours said the cries went on for about five to 10 minutes and then the place became quiet.
Acting on this information, a party of Police ranks checked at Lot 57 Russell Street, Charlestown with Gilpin but was unsuccessful. Gilpin was further interviewed and he maintained his story.
Yesterday, at about 10 am, the Police received information about a stench coming from the alleyway near the deceased woman’s home. The Police, acting on this information, went to this location and found the body of a female in a partially decomposed state, wrapped in a blue and white sheet, amid garbage. The body was naked.
The scene was processed and the deceased’s body is currently at Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Several persons were questioned and statements were taken. Police are also questioning Gilpin as the investigations continue.
Bovell was a mother of three. Her surviving daughter lives overseas.
