–18 year old held for questioning
AN investigation has been launched into the suspected rape and murder of 33-year-old Savatri Gangadeen, a female taxi driver of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara.
The Guyana Chronicle was able to confirm that the woman’s body was discovered in a clump of bushes two miles from where her vehicle was found at the back of a resort on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway.Yesterday the woman’s sister told the media that her sister left her Soesdyke home around 20:30 hours on Saturday night, informing her that she was going to drop two persons at a loam pit in Timehri, and took her son along with her for the ride.

In the ongoing investigations, the police so far have held a suspect for questioning. This newspaper understands that the man is not related to the woman, but may have been one of the two persons who hired her for the late-night work.

The dead woman’s son was unable to recall what transpired, since, according to investigators, the seven-year-old child was apparently asleep when the incident occurred.

The woman’s sister said that the family knew something was amiss when her husband attempted to contact her via her mobile phone but was unsuccessful.

It was as a result of the non-communication with his wife that the man got concerned and went in search of her along with several members of the community and members of the Community Policing Group.

Meanwhile, in an unfortunate twist of events, the police on Saturday arrested the woman’s husband after they suspected him of having a part to play in the woman’s disappearance.

The dead woman’s sister told the media that the man informed relatives that just before he was arrested by the police while assisting with the search, he heard screams which were reportedly coming from his wife.

Although he communicated this to the police, they thought it best to arrest him, curtailing all hopes of finding the woman alive on Saturday night even as they kept the man in custody for the night.

It was only yesterday morning when the police returned to the area that they discovered the woman’s body; and in a further search, they came upon her car with her clothes and son.

The dead woman’s sister is very furious with the manner in which the police handled the situation, and believes her sister may have still been alive, had the police followed-up on the reported screams.
Written By Leroy Smith