Missing 6-Y-O found dead

The search for six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran, who was reported missing from his home at Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), has ended tragically after his decomposed body was recovered from a canal near the sea dam early Tuesday morning.

The discovery followed information obtained by investigators, including additional surveillance footage showing the child’s father travelling on a motorcycle towards the canal with what appeared to be his son before returning later without the child.

Police have identified the father as the main suspect in the investigation.

The child’s body was discovered among debris on the northern side of the canal, reportedly being eaten by reptiles.

Divisional Commander Senior Superintendent Lonsdale Withrite, speaking to reporters at the scene on Tuesday, confirmed that the discovery followed information received by investigators on Monday evening.

“Based on some information that came to light last evening, we conducted a search of the canal that runs next to the sea dam,” Withrite explained.

He said the search commenced at approximately 20:45h on Monday and continued into the early hours of Tuesday.

“That exercise started around quarter to nine and about one o’clock this morning, the body of the missing child was recovered about a mile from this current location,” the commander disclosed.

The recovery brought to an end a search that had been underway since Orlando was reported missing on Wednesday, October 14.

Investigators had earlier obtained surveillance footage showing the father with the child in another section of Bath Settlement shortly after midnight on the day he was reported missing.

Additional footage subsequently obtained showed the father travelling on a motorcycle in the direction of the canal early that morning with what appeared to be his six-year-old son.

He was later seen returning on the motorcycle without the child.

The footage provided investigators with further information about the father’s movements during the hours preceding the report of Orlando’s disappearance.

Withrite confirmed that investigators had obtained additional footage and gathered information from the father.

“We had some additional footage, so we were able to gather some information from the main suspect in this matter, which is the child’s father,” he stated.

However, investigators have not yet established whether Orlando was alive or already dead when he was taken to the location.

Questioned about that possibility, the commander declined to make a determination.

“No, it is still in the early stages of the investigation, so I wouldn’t want to pronounce on that as yet,” Withrite said.

He also confirmed that the child’s body was discovered on the northern side of the canal, among debris.

Orlando’s disappearance was initially reported to the police on Wednesday, October 14.

According to the child’s grandmother, 65-year-old Dhankumarie Gowkarran, also known as “Shanti”, the family had gone to bed the previous Tuesday night.

However, the father stated that when he checked the following morning, his six-year-old son was missing.

The matter was subsequently reported to the police, prompting a search for the child.

During an earlier interview, Gowkarran said her son, who works in the sugar industry, had been caring for his children following the departure of their mother approximately two years earlier.

She explained that the children attended school and would sometimes visit her before returning home.

The grandmother had expressed deep concern over Orlando’s disappearance and remained hopeful that he would be found alive.

She also disclosed during that interview that her son had been taken into police custody as investigators sought to establish what had happened to the child.

At the time, Gowkarran said she was placing her faith in God and praying for her grandson’s safe return.

However, that hope was shattered with Tuesday morning’s discovery.

Meanwhile, Withrite acknowledged the assistance provided by residents, schools and other members of the public following reports of Orlando’s disappearance.

The case had attracted widespread attention, with appeals for information about the missing child circulating throughout the community and on social media.

Residents also joined efforts to locate the six-year-old.

“The public and the members of the community have been very supportive and contributed by coming out and assisting, searching and so on, since this matter was reported,” Withrite said.

He noted that schools had also played a role in circulating information about the missing child.

“Even the schools and so on were posting that the child was missing, and that was useful in bringing us to this point that we are at the moment,” the commander added.

With Orlando’s body now recovered, investigators are continuing their efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding his death.

The investigation remains ongoing.