WITH THE murder recently of a 67-year-old woman who lived alone at her Topo, Corentyne residence, and other similar cases of late, Crime Chief Leslie James told this publication that he did not see it as a trend, since the cases are isolated.

He said that they have recorded several cases where elderly women who reside alone were singled out, and their homes invaded by criminal elements, who robbed, raped and murdered them, but these were incidents that happened in different areas countrywide, among other facts.
NO CONSISTENCY
James stated that the cases lack consistency and are deemed as ‘crimes of opportunity’ since the criminals recognised the opportunity and took advantage of it.

He explained that it is believed that the perpetrator (s) are mentally ill and are prone to crimes of that nature and chances are they are on narcotics. In that light, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) has recognised this and will remove these ‘sick people’ from society in a lawful way.

The Assistant Commissioner advised that women who live alone must pay keen attention to their safety and have their premises secured or have someone stay with them.

He pointed out that one cannot be too careful and security conscious but it is advisable that they safeguard their property even if they are able-bodied or have someone check on them from time to time.

In a call to persons who commit these heinous crimes on elderly women, James called on them to desist from the practice and come forward to the police since the arm of the law is very long and they will be found out no matter how long it takes since the police are here to stay.

He advised that the culprits find employment since they will be going after them relentlessly and it can be assumed that the perpetrator (s) are not normal and maybe addicted to drugs and are out of touch with reality to behave so abnormally against any human being, especially the elderly who live alone.

A total of 12 murders were recorded at the end of January 2015 in comparison to 17 murders for January 2014, a decrease of 29%, police reported.
On February 9, 2015 Ramdai Mohabir, called ‘Aunty Elsie’, 67, of Lot 665 Topo, Albion, Corentyne, Berbice naked body was found in her home.

She was raped and robbed of $6,000.  She lived alone and was found at about 05:30 hrs by her son Deonarine Ramdeo.

Ramdeo stated that his mother wanted to live alone. She refused to live with her children so the family built a house in the same yard for her. She had been residing there for the past six months.

The man told reporters he was alerted by his wife that something did not seem right at his mother’s house. He immediately ventured over to the one-flat wooden house and noticed that six louver panes from one of the windows were missing.

On peering through one of the windows, and to his horror and disbelief, he saw his mother’s naked body sprawled in the house. The man immediately raised an alarm.

The woman’s daughter, Vinmattie Reddi, in tears lamented the fact that her mother wanted to live alone although they had offered to let her live with one of them. To please their mother they decided to build the one-flat wooden house for her next to her son.

When the woman was found her feet were in the air. She had bruises on her neck and her face was swollen.

A new toothbrush was found on the scene, pins were scattered on the bed and an empty baby oil bottle was also found nearby. Blood stains were also seen and several marks were found on her body.

By Michel Outridge