POLICE are investigating the alleged murder of a miner which occurred sometime between September 1 and September 6, 2020, at Thomas Island, Puruni River, Region Seven.

Dead is Tyrone Thomas of Charity, Essequibo Coast. He was working on a land dredge at Puruni River, at the time of his death.
The owner of the land dredge, a 25-year-old resident of Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara (ECD) told investigators that he left Thomas, on August 16, 2020, and another worker – a Brazilian National – in the camp.

About one week ago, the owner said Thomas called and informed him that the Brazilian had left the camp.
On Saturday last, the dredge owner said he and two new workers travelled to the camp at Puruni River and, upon arrival, they did not see Thomas.
However, the man said that, on Sunday, at about 07:00 hours, he got a foul smell from the Puruni River close by his camp and went to investigate it. There, he found Thomas’ body wrapped in a multi-coloured hammock stuck beside a tree in the river.

Police ranks, upon visiting the scene, observed that the hands and legs of the victim were bound and a gaping wound was found above the right eye.
The body is at the Bartica Public Hospital Mortuary awaiting an autopsy as investigations continue.