–  body found among debris of gutted home, foul play suspected
THE body of 57-year-old Jacqueline George was discovered among the debris of her ‘E’ Field,  Sophia home which was gutted by a fire that started around 02:50 hrs yesterday morning.
According to a Police report, the fire which is of “so far undetermined origin”, completely destroyed the wooden home of  George, “who also perished in the fire”.
The Police said initial investigations revealed that neighbours saw the building ablaze and raised an alarm which led to units from the Guyana Fire Service responding and extinguishing the fire.
“The body of Jacqueline George was subsequently found among the debris,” the Police stated, noting that investigations are in progress.
When this newspaper visited the scene yesterday morning, there were unconfirmed reports circulating that the dead woman’s common-law partner, Mr. Godfrey Stewart, who has since gone missing, might have been responsible for both the fire and her death.
The two were said to have shared a violent relationship and, in speaking with neighbours, they said George and Stewart could be heard arguing on several occasions.
The Chronicle was told that Stewart was seen entering the couple’s home and leaving minutes before flames engulfed the premises at approximately 2:50 hrs, completely destroying the wooden structure.
George was a vendor at the Stabroek Market and, according to her daughter, Ms. Michelle Wiltshire, her mother and Stewart shared a common law relationship for close to four years.
“I was out and got in around two o’clock. After that, I get a call from my sister and she say the house on fire. I call my brother and he went. I call my mother’s phone but there was no answer,” she said.
The distraught woman explained that even though they knew there was a body among the charred remains of the house, she did not believe it was her mother’s.
“I thought it was my stepfather and we went searching for her. Nobody hear she scream…She liked to take a little drink so we didn’t think she was home,” Wiltshire said.
Close to tears, the young woman said it was not until officials from Lyken’s Funeral Parlour were removing the charred body that she realised it was that of her mother.
“I couldn’t bear to look. My sister saw and she said my mother’s hands were tied together and her feet were tied up too,” Wiltshire lamented.
George’s daughter recalled that Stewart had been violent with her on previous occasions.
“Just before Christmas, he chop she in she head…They were always arguing,” she said.
Another one of George’s children, Ms. Sharon George said her mother was a simple woman who sold newspapers, confectionery and jewelry to earn a living.
“I live right next to her and when I hear they say her house on fire, I couldn’t believe she in there…She told me she was going out but when I go to where she does normally be, she friend said she went home early,” Sharon said.
George leaves behind three children and 13 grandchildren, along with many other friends and relatives.