Murder of Berbice boys…

DIRECTOR of the Argentine Team of Forensic Anthropology (EAAF) Dr. Luis Fondebrider, who is currently in Guyana to assess whether the team can help with the investigation into the murder of teenage cousins, Joel and Isaiah Henry, along with Haresh Singh, has already met with the affected families and has also visited the crime scenes at West Coast Berbice (WCB). He was accompanied by co-president of the Guyana Human Rights Association (GHRA) Mike McCormack and attorney-at-law Nigel Hughes, who is representing the interests of the Henry families. In an invited comment on Sunday, Hughes said they are hoping that the local investigators would cooperate with Dr. Fonderbrider, who is a forensic anthropologist. This cooperation would include the local authorities sharing what information they have gathered thus far, so that the EAAF Director can lend his assistance.

On Saturday, a press release from the GHRA related that Dr. Fondebrider’s visit is being facilitated in accordance with the wishes of the affected families. He arrived on Saturday and will be in Guyana until December 16. During this time, he is also expected to meet with the investigators and police personnel and brief appropriate government and diplomatic representatives. Hughes mentioned too that the GHRA co-president has been engaging the police about sharing information with the anthropologist. The Guyana Chronicle attempted to contact McCormack via e-mail, but up to press time those attempts were unsuccessful. In its press release, however, the GHRA stated that as a result of Dr. Fondebrider’s visit, the EAAF will determine whether and to what degree they may be able to support the Guyana Police Force in its investigations.

“If that conclusion is positive, the modalities of how it may be implemented will be addressed,” the GHRA stated. Local investigations into the murders of the three teenage boys have not been successful in bringing the perpetrator(s) to justice; a $3M reward was even offered to anyone who could provide information leading to the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the gruesome murders. Further assistance was also sought from the CARICOM Regional Security System (RSS). Though the RSS was satisfied with the work done by local authorities, the team recommended the local authorities do more work. In November, Hughes recommended this Argentine team after local authorities had not yet been able to bring the perpetrator(s) to justice; and on Sunday he highlighted, “We’d like the government to allow the rest of the team to come and investigate.”

In order for the team to come to Guyana and help with the investigation, special permission to operate would have to be granted. The team will include a forensic anthropologist from Argentina, and, from Spain, two forensic pathologists and a criminalist. And it was reported that the total cost of their visit was estimated to be $7M; the GHRA was hoping to secure $4M, with the remainder being provided by the government. The Stabroek News reported on Sunday that Dr. Fonderbrider’s visit was covered through some of the GHRA’s fund-raising efforts. His visit reportedly costs approximately US$3,000 which is equivalent to over $600,000. This covers airfare, the costs of visas and medical tests and accommodation for the period that he is here. The mutilated bodies of cousins Joel and Isaiah Henry, were found in the Cotton Tree backdam in West Berbice on September 6, 2020. On September 9, three days after the Henry boys were found, Singh was found in a bloodied state as well in the Number Three Village backlands, hours after he left home on his motorcycle to transport water for his relatives who were working on their farm. The gruesome deaths sent shockwaves throughout the country and resulted in widespread public outrage and mass protests.