THE individual whose charred remains were found in a gutted house at Lot 1, Area ‘A’, Goedverwagting, Wales, West Bank Demerara three weeks ago died of smoke inhalation, a post-mortem has confirmed.The body is suspected to be that of 43-year-old Elvin Ceres, a resident of Timehri, EBD, who went missing the day before the fire. The house, owned by businesswoman Elizabeth Sattaur, was gutted on the morning of June 30 last.

Police sources told this publication that DNA samples which were taken from the remains of the body are being analysed. Ceres’s brother Terrence told this newspaper that the family was worried about the whereabouts of his younger brother. He said the man worked with Sattaur, including at the house in question, and was familiar with the security layout of the building, since he was tasked with monitoring the cameras installed there.

The fire, suspected to be electrical in origin, started in the upper flat of the building. The remains of the man were found in a stooping position in a bathroom housed within a self-contained room.

Sattaur rarely occupied the building, and she told the Guyana Chronicle shortly after the fire that no one was supposed to be at the house. However, this newspaper understands that Ceres had keys to the house, and was seen in the area at least twice in the days prior to the fire.

The man’s wife had, through the courts, taken out a restraining order against him; and the day before the fire, he had informed her that he was on the East Coast of Demerara wiring a house. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.