COMMANDER of ‘A’ Division, Marlon Chapman, on Wednesday said that three persons are in custody assisting with the investigations following the homicide of 8-year-old Isaiah Smartt last Tuesday.

He told the Guyana Chronicle that on Friday after the post mortem was conducted and the cause of death indicated that it was a murder, a woman was detained and is still in custody. So far, she has denied any involvement in the boy’s murder and two more persons from the community were arrested for questioning.

The body of Isaiah David Smartt of Lot 148 ‘E’ Block Plum Park, Sophia, was found in a yard on Tuesday afternoon by a relative. The boy was last seen alive on Monday night when he left home to visit his father, who resides a short distance away. A post mortem performed on the boy’s body revealed that he died as a result of asphyxiation due to bronchoaspiration and compounded by compression injuries to the neck.

Police said it is a clear indication that Smartt’s death was unnatural and has been ruled a homicide. Smartt’s body was found in a swampy yard which was considered too shallow for him to drown and his relatives suspected foul play since he was deemed an excellent swimmer.
The Commander of ‘A’ Division said Smartt’s body which bore no visible marks of violence was found at about 19:45hrs on Tuesday in about two feet of water. He related that after the child left his mother’s house alone and did not show up at his father’s home, a search was initiated by relatives who discovered his body and summoned the police.