The family of Melissa Arokium and her eight-year-old son, Anthony Arokium, who were murdered at their residence in Rose Hall Town, Corentyne are dissatisfied with the way in which investigators are handling the probe as the police are yet to file charges against any suspect.
Melissa Arokium, also known as Lisa, 30, who operated a shop at her residence at Lot 189 Mangrove Street, Reef, Rose Hall, Corentyne, and Anthony Arokium, 8, a pupil at the Port Mourant Primary School were found dead between 1 pm – 2 pm on August, 23, by Melissa’s younger brother.
Based on photographs that were circulated online of the scene, Melissa was found face down in a pool of blood in her living room with major injuries to her neck, while her son was found on his bed with injuries to his head and neck along with cuts on his face.
Post-mortem examinations which were carried out revealed that Melissa died due to shock and haemorrhage and incised wounds to the neck, while her son died due to shock and haemorrhage and multiple incised wounds.
Police had initially said that they had arrested four persons including Melissa’s two brothers for questioning. The persons they said were the brother who resided with the victims – Cerrano Arokium called ‘Foody’, a 33-year-old cane harvester; the brother who discovered the body of the victims — Nicholas Arokium, called ‘Nico’, a 26-year-old vendor; the boyfriend of the victim, Shailendra Umrao, a 37-year-old of Belvedere, Corentyne and the neighbour of the victim, Deo Naris, a 38-year-old ‘DJ’ of Mangrove Street, Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, Berbice.
However, Nicholas Arokium had said that he was never arrested. Cerrano Arokium was then released on $200,000 bail and the other two men on $50,000 bail each. Earlier last month, Cerrano and Melissa’s neighbour Naris were re-arrested. However, following their re-arrest, the head of the force’s communication arm, Mark Ramotar said that the suspects were released “after being further interviewed by investigators based on certain information that was obtained.”
According to Ramotar at that time, investigators were also “patiently awaiting” the results of physical evidence submitted to the Guyana Forensic Laboratory for testing as the probe is ongoing.
The police have not issued any further statements other than confirming that investigations are still ongoing.
Meanwhile, the relatives yesterday expressed their dissatisfaction with the way in which police have been handling the matter as well as the way in which they are treating the family.
Occupying
According to the relatives, a cousin who suffers from mental illness and one of the first persons to be arrested and released broke into the house where Melissa and her son were murdered and began occupying the premises.
The relatives said that Melissa’s mother yesterday visited the Rose Hall Police Station where she was told that she would have to obtain a restraining order through the court to have the man removed from the house although the property belongs to her.
The man identified as former GDF officer, Quincy Ron Hooper, 32, prior to the murders would often do odd jobs around the house for Melissa who would offer him food and boarding whenever needed.
Initially, Stabroek News was told, that Hooper was arrested on the day of the discovery of the murders, however, he was eventually released. The police had not issued any confirmation as to his arrest.
Melissa’s family claimed that Hooper’s relatives who are members of the Guyana Police Force had made contact to have him released citing his mental illness.
However, since returning to the community about two weeks ago and occupying the house, Hooper has reportedly told several different versions detailing Melissa’s and Anthony’s murders to relatives, residents, market goers and other persons. As such the family is concerned as to why he was never thoroughly questioned by investigators.
On Sunday, Melissa’s brother Cerrano Arokium ventured to the house which he once occupied with his deceased sister to check on the situation after the police did not take his mother’s report seriously on Friday.
“Them neighbours keep telling we Quincy break and go in the house and living and so after church yesterday me and friend decide to go by and when we come all them window open and when I watch through I see Quincy and I ask he what he doing and I tell he come out the place that nobody ain’t tell him to stay here”, the brother said.
According to Arokium, Hooper then armed himself with a cutlass “and he start broadside the place inside and run to come out and so I ride away and go straight to the (Rose Hall) station.”
However, at the station Arokium said that his report was not taken seriously either as police at the location questioned why he rode away from the scene. “Them police keep asking me why I ride away, if I get frighten.”
At the house yesterday, it was noticed that Hooper had chopped several of the plants, wood and tires that were in the yard. Residents said that after Arokium left the man chopped everything in the yard in a frenzy.
Stabroek News was told that Hooper was arrested on Sunday evening and according to Arokium he visited the station yesterday morning requesting that a police accompany him to the location for safety however he was told that no rank was available until after 5 pm.
After having a walk through with other relatives in the house yesterday, Arokium relayed, “Quincy cooking, Quincy get banana riping in the house, Quincy get two bed where he using, two room he using and nobody ain’t give he permission to come here… And Quincy ain’t getting investigate for this story.”
The family is pleading with the police to visit the community and conduct a proper investigation.
