Approximately two days after disappearing, the lifeless body of a 65-year-old woman was on Thursday morning discovered floating in a trench at North Mocha, East Bank Demerara.
The dead woman has been identified as Rita Fredericks of Barnwell, North Mocha, East Bank Demerara.
Inews understands that the discovery of the dead woman’s bloated body was made by one of her neighbours, Hettie Turnhill.
According to Turnhill, on Tuesday afternoon, after returning home from work, she noticed that her sister was imbibing with Fredericks and her [Fredericks’] husband under the shed attached to their [Turnhill’s] home, so she joined them.
“Uncle [Fredericks’ husband] normally is go every month and collect he lil pension so he seh he buy a lil drink from Banks so he and he wife and me sister went tekin a lil drink,” she explained.
The woman recalled that around 22:00hrs, Fredericks informed her husband that she was going home.
Shortly after, the others dispersed and returned to their respective homes as well.
However, Turnhill said on Wednesday morning, Frederick’s husband visited her home again to inquire if his wife was there while indicating that after returning to the house he shared with the now dead woman on Tuesday evening, he could not find her.
“I seh no. Me aint see aunty,” the woman said.
After some moments of making inquiries, a small group of persons conducted a search in the village for Fredericks. When she was not found, a report was made to the police station by her husband.
At around 10:00hrs this morning, Turnhill told Inews that she was making her way towards the trench near her yard to bathe, when she became engaged in a conversation with another neighbour. She noted that as her eyes perused the trench, she spotted Frederick’s body.
“…and when I look at the trench, ah see she float…Just she head and she ears deh showing out of the water.”
Turnhill alerted persons with her screams and the police were contacted shortly after.
It is believed that on Tuesday evening, while leaving her neighbours’ home under the influence of alcohol, Fredericks may have slipped into the trench and drowned.
A post mortem is expected to be conducted soon as investigations continue. (Ramona Luthi)
