A SECURITY guard from Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown, surrendered to authorities at the Brickdam Police Station on Tuesday in connection with the murder of 37-year-old Ridley Joseph, the Toshao (village leader) of Tasserene Village in Region Seven.

He was identified as 24-year-old Noah Beaton. Upon his surrender, Beaton was informed of the murder allegation and promptly arrested. During questioning, he allegedly confessed to the crime, stating that Joseph had abused him during his primary school years.
Beaton claimed that he sought an apology from Joseph for years but was unsuccessful, leading to the fatal confrontation.

The incident occurred on December 16, 2024, at the Signature Inn Hotel in Queenstown, Georgetown. Joseph had travelled to Georgetown to attend the second executive meeting of the National Toshaos’ Council. He checked into the hotel at 18:23 hours and was assigned room number 135. Later that evening, Joseph left the hotel with an unidentified male companion and returned around 12:50 AM. The two entered the hotel, where Joseph purchased a bottle of water, and proceeded to his room. Approximately an hour and a half later, the male companion left alone. Around 19:50 hours, Joseph was found brutally stabbed to death in his room, with 19 stab wounds, 11 of which were to his back.

The murder has shocked the Indigenous community, and investigations are ongoing. Beaton remains in police custody as authorities continue their probe into the circumstances surrounding Joseph’s death.