A person is now in custody in the case of Melissa Arokium and her eight-year-old son, Anthony Arokium, who were murdered at their residence in Rose Hall Town, Corentyne, on August 23 last year.
“I can confirm that a suspect is in police custody,” Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said yesterday.
Melissa, also known as ‘Lisa’, 30, who operated a shop at her residence at Lot 189 Mangrove Street, Reef, Rose Hall, Corentyne, and Anthony, a pupil at the Port Mourant Primary School, were found dead between 1 and 2 pm on August 23, by Melissa’s younger brother.
Photographs of the scene that were circulated online showed Melissa lying 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 the incised wounds to the neck, while her son died due to shock and haemorrhage and multiple incised wounds.
Police had initially stated that they had arrested four persons for questioning including Melissa’s two brothers. These 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 while Cerrano Arokium was released on $200,000 bail and the other two men on $50,000 bail each. Earlier in September 2023, 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.
The police have not issued any further statements other than confirming that investigations are still ongoing.
Meanwhile, relatives had expressed their dissatisfaction with the way in which police were 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. They said that Melissa’s mother on October 2, 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 arranged to have him released citing his mental illness.
However, since returning to the community about two weeks later and occupying the house, Hooper had 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.
