Investigators accompany pathologist to crime scene

FIRE and police investigators travelled to the interior location of Port Kaituma with a Government pathologist yesterday to investigate the murder of a woman and her four children, who were burnt to death in their locked home in an act of arson allegedly committed by the woman’s husband and father of the children.

The businessman has reportedly told investigators that he was provoked to commit the act because of several stressful issues he has had to deal with recently, including a very huge debt owed persons in the area, and other huge sums owed to persons in other communities.

He, however, could not explain to investigators why, having decided to harm his family because of the stress he was going through, he had decided to spare his own life.

The Guyana Chronicle was reliably informed yesterday that two fire investigators, criminal investigation ranks, and the pathologist had left the Ogle International Airport for Port Kaituma to strengthen the ongoing investigation into the tragedy.
The man, who remains in police custody under guard at the Port Kaituma Hospital, is likely to accompany the team back to the city when their leg of the investigation is completed.

Fire Chief Marlon Gentle, in an invited comment on Saturday, praised Port Kaituma residents and its business community for containing the fire to one building. He pointed out that, from all indications, the perpetrator had intended to destroy the entire property, evidenced by the amount of flammable liquid he had used to douse the building while his wife and children were inside.

“You have to give it to those guys (bucket brigade fire fighters), they did a good job,” the Fire Chief remarked.

The dead have been identified as Lea La Cruz, 14; Lavette La Cruz, 3; Labron La Cruz, 8; Levon La Cruz, 1; and their mother, Lurlene La Cruz, 39.

The police were made aware of the man’s intention on Friday evening when his twelve-year-old daughter, who had managed to make her way to the police station, reported that the man was planning to burn down the family home. The police took the report very seriously, and travelled to the location; but as they approached, they realised that the building was already on fire, and that the heavy grill protecting the door had been locked to prevent access into the building. The persons within the building had been effectively trapped.

The man, who by that time had gone into hiding, was apprehended by public-spirited citizens and taken into police custody, where he remains under guard at the hospital after suffering some degree of burns to his body.

(By Leroy Smith)