–after sounding alert about bandits

A SEPTUAGENARIAN was discovered dead in her room on Monday, and relatives suspect foul play is responsible.

Dead is 75-year-old Somaria Sookdeo, called ‘Elsie’, of Surat Drive, Triumph, East Coast Demerara. Reports reveal that her lifeless body was discovered by her son-in-law in the wee hours of the morning, hours after she had notified a relative that bandits were trying to gain access to her home.

Police visiting the scene examined the body and found it had bruises. Neighbours disclosed that they did not hear any sound or notice anything suspicious.

According to her son-in-law Krishna, his wife received a call from her mother after 2am on Monday and was told that bandits were trying to gain access to her home. Elsie was subsequently advised to secure the locks and valuables. Hours after, Krishna visited the house and called out for Somaria several times, but got no answer.

He then decided to enter the building by removing some louvre panes. Sensing something amiss, he visited her bedroom and discovered the lifeless body lying on the bed.

Elsie was described as a peaceful and easygoing individual who never wore jewelry or anything that would attract unnecessary attention. According to the dead woman’s daughter, the house was broken into, but nothing was missing.

“Her mouth and face had marks like if someone strangled her with a pillow,” Elsie’s daughter said. She added that her mother was also a hypertensive case, and was living alone for the past 20 years, but was never the victim of a break-in.

Relatives are hoping that a Post-Mortem can be done early, in spite of the current holiday period.