THE decomposed body of a 60-year-old woman was discovered under a footpath bridge at Dispensary Trench in Free Yard Port Mourant, Corentyne Berbice at around 06:00hrs on Friday.

The woman, identified as Dewanttie Lekhraj called ‘Christmas’, was found face-down in a crouching position by persons crossing the bridge. She was recognised by the clothing she had on, as she was last seen alive on Tuesday night wearing it.

Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, a friend of Lekhraj said on Tuesday evening, they returned from the Grace Tabernacle Fellowship Church in Albion at around 20:30hrs. She waited until Lekhraj was in front of her door before walking off to her home. That was the last time the 60-year-old, who lives alone, was seen alive.

Relatives said despite not seeing her for all of Wednesday and Thursday, they were not worried, as she is in the habit of wandering off for a few days but would return. Asodra Ramanah, the deceased woman’s older sister, said she was shocked when she received the call that her sister’s body was floating in the trench. “I couldn’t believe was she because she does wander around and people does help she wid lil food and suh, but she was troubling with that sickness Alzheimer’s and she does get asthma so me nah know if she fall in or what, we gah wait for the post-mortem to know.”

When the Guyana Chronicle visited the scene, many curious onlookers had converged around the bridge to get a glimpse of the body. Many questioned how it arrived at that position in the centre of the trench and under the bridge. “Me want know how it reach deh because if she fall off the bridge she won’t be under it, it gah be she fall somewhere else and the current cause she fuh stick up there with all them garbage and grass” one resident reasoned.