-in serious condition in the Burns Care Unit
PORT Kaituma businessman Linus La Cruz will be charged with five counts of murder, and will be placed before the court when he is discharged from the Burn Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital, a source close to the investigation has reliably informed the Guyana Chronicle.The source says the law provides for the man to be charged with the murders; and with respect to the arson of the building, that charge would be levelled against him during the trial, when it is determined that he has set the fire to the building, causing the deaths of his family members: wife Lurlene La Cruz, 39 years; her daughters Lea La Cruz, 14 years, and Lavette La Cruz, 3 years; and sons Labron La Cruz, 8 years, and Levon La Cruz, 1 year old.

This publication was able to confirm that the La Cruz file has been sent to the Chambers of the Director of Public Prosecutions for advice.

Fifty-year-old Linus La Cruz has been admitted to the Burns Care Unit of the GPHC upon recommendation of the doctors at the Port Kaituma Hospital that he be transferred there for further medical attention.

The Chronicle was told that GPHC doctors realised that the man was in great pain and recommended that he be admitted a patient at the institution. He remains there under police guard.

On March 14, Linus La Cruz is reported to have locked his wife and four of his children in his home, secured a grill door, doused the building with a flammable substance, and set it alight. Persons in the Port Kaituma area reported hearing the children screaming for help, but frantic and aggressive efforts to save them proved futile, since rescuers were prevented from accessing the building because of the raging fire.

Earlier this week, investigators from the city, accompanied by a government pathologist, travelled to Port Kaituma to conduct investigations. The charred remains of the woman and her four children were buried on Tuesday.

When Linus La Cruz arrived at the Ogle International Airport on Tuesday, he was greeted by several of his relatives, who wept as they saw the condition he was in.
By Leroy Smith