SIXTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD Robert Alfred Hercules, called “Sa Joe,” of Lot 41 Pearl Stewart Housing Scheme, New Amsterdam and formerly of Seafield, West Coast Berbice, was discovered dead at his home just after 11:30hrs on Thursday.The discovery was made by his only son Stephen Anthony Hercules, who after not seeing his father over the Christmas holidays decided to check on him, after telephone calls went unanswered. On arriving at the cottage, he had to break the door to gain access and later discovered the decomposed body of his father, lying on his bed, clad with a white vest and underpants. Hercules was a painter by profession.
The police were summoned and on inspecting the remains, concluded that there were no marks of violence. In the meantime, niece of the deceased, Carlene Hercules Ricketts, said she spoke to her uncle on Christmas day, as it was her birthday and he had called to wish her well and also promised to visit his relatives on the West Coast of Berbice on New Year’s Day.
Subsequently, undertakers from the Arokium Funeral Parlour advised that the remains were in an advanced stage of decomposition and as such had to be buried immediately. Thereafter, the body was interred at the Stanleytown cemetery. Meanwhile, relatives said, Hercules’ older brother Owen, called “Sailor Mauby,” had also died similarly at the very home.