THE badly decomposed bodies of Shondell Anthony Plass of Patrick Dam, Angoy’s Avenue and his uncle-in-law Nathan Bender were transported to the New Amsterdam Stelling yesterday, heightening further speculation about the fate of the four persons who left the Canje River in a motor vessel last week Thursday for Morgoston, Berbice River.

On Wednesday, the decayed remains of fourteen-year-old Shaquelle Plass of Patrick Dam, Angoy’s Avenue, was fished out of the Berbice River, while captain of the motor vessel, Rudolph Sherrif, called ‘Monkey Man’, of Smythfield, New Amsterdam, was seen floating on Tuesday. Their remains are currently at the Port Mourant Hospital awaiting a post-mortem.
Meanwhile, relatives are wondering what could have caused the death of the men which included a father and a son, namely Shondell and Shaquelle Plass, along with Nathan Bender, an uncle.
Whilst there is much speculation, persons opined that the wooden vessel may have been hit by a tug causing it to capsize, throwing its occupants into their watery grave. However, police are currently continuing   investigations into the tragedy in which one family lost three persons.
In the meantime, Norman Bender, the stepson of Shondell Plass, but the older brother of Shaquelle, recalled that the remains of the older Plass and his uncle Nathan were recovered 75 meters apart between Mara and Rupununi.
Plass was retrieved after being stuck in a tree by the foreshore, while Nathan Bender was found stuck on the mudflat in the vicinity of Mara.
According to the relative, Nathan Bender was identified by his bandaged right foot. Three weeks ago the 43-year-old man had left his home at Morgoston and had travelled to New Amsterdam to seek treatment for his diabetic condition and was returning home when he met his demise.
However, Shondell Plass was identified by his clothing which included a pair of black jeans, a blue jersey and a pair of black Nike boots.
According to Norman Bender, his brother Shaquelle Plass, his stepfather, along with his uncle Nathan Bender left New Amsterdam on Thursday, April 4 at about 15:00hrs  for Morgoston, Berbice River.
He said the Plass father and son were accompanying Nathan Bender to his home, after he was ill and was undergoing medical treatment in New Amsterdam, having had difficulty with one of his legs in walking.
Bender revealed that several persons traversing the river had telephoned to say that “one of the Bender’s boat” was seen drifting in the vicinity of Mara.
He recalled that after Sherrif’s body was recovered and brought to New Amsterdam on Tuesday at about 09:50hrs, he was accompanied by the police and two other persons and they went in search of his relatives.
According to him, Shaquelle was seen tied with his hands and feet apart as he remained afloat in the river.
“I recognized him by his clothing, his blue jeans and blue jersey, apart from that was sheer skeleton. No hair, no eye, no mouth, apparently fish eat he out.”
According to reports, the cream and pink boat in which the men were travelling was also tied on the opposite side of the river and was afloat. It was observed that two boards were missing from the top portions of the bow, and the boat was filled with water. The outboard engine, however, was missing.