Yvonne “Eve” Trumpet-Nicholson, 74, of Brooklyn, New York, was last seen alive and well by her immediate family at the JFK International Airport minutes before her flight to T&T last Tuesday.
However, what transpired after her arrival at the Piarco International Airport five hours later remains a mystery.
Her decomposing body was found on Monday at about 2 pm near the T&T Defence Force’s base in Cumuto.
Speaking with the T&T Guardian last evening outside her local home at Mohammed Street, St Augustine, her daughter made a tearful plea for answers, while Trumpet-Nicholson’s husband made it clear it is was yet to be determined how his wife was killed as an autopsy was still pending. Neither relative, who both flew into the country wanted their named used.
Trumpet-Nicholson had dual citizenship for the US and T&T, migrated to the US in 1989 and had been back-and-forth since then. She was a public service retiree from the public service.
Trumpet-Nicholson’s daughter, who is one of four children, said they tried to contact her when she was expected to clear Immigration and Customs at Piarco last Tuesday.
“We tried over and over to call her but we got no response. We became worried and my brother, my father and I all decided to come to Trinidad ourselves to investigate why she is not taking our calls,” the woman’s daughter said.
In the yard of the split-level old-fashioned concrete house there was a Toyota Corolla, PCA 9051, parked just behind the massive concrete fence, which had a flat rear right tyre.
Investigating officers from Homicide Region II, who were there at the house interviewing Trumpet-Nicholson’s immediate family members, called in a wrecker so the vehicle could be taken to the Forensic Science Centre for forensic analysis.
Asked who the car belonged to, Trumpet-Nicholson’s daughter said: “It is an investigation and we were told not to let too much information out. Right now we just want anyone who may have seen her at the airport and noticed if anyone was with her or if she got into any particular vehicle to call the homicide police and let them know, please…It is what we are asking for at this time…for help.”
She also noted “strange” information that appeared on an official release issued by the T&T Police Service.
The release stated: “…Trumpet-Nicholson, of Mohammed Street, St Augustine, was last seen in St James at about 7 am on Wednesday 14th November.”
It also added that a missing person’s report was lodged the following day at the St Joseph Police Station.
“Wherever that information came from that she was last seen in St James is definitely not true. That cannot be because she never answered our calls, neither called us to tell us that she landed and she was alright…which she usually does,” Trumpet-Nicholson’s husband said.
Her son described her as an open, inviting and loving person.
“She truly genuinely cared for people. She would really bend over backwards to help people. She had four children but she raised tonnes of other kids,” he said.
An investigating officer, who wished not to be identified, confirmed Trumpet-Nicholson’s decomposing body was found by hunters and added it appeared her throat was slit. The officer said the investigations will now include working along with the Airports Authority of T&T and their security personnel to retrieve surveillance footage on the day she arrived in and around the Piarco International Airport.
“We cannot conclude anything at this time. The investigation is very sensitive and we are looking at all angles and hoping that we get concrete leads soon in the investigations,” the officer said.
Members of the public who may have any information concerning Trumpet-Nicholson are asked to contact officers at the Homicide Region II, the nearest police station, 555, 999 or 800-TIPS.
In an unrelated incident, homicide officers were called to Upper Picton Road, Eastern Quarry, Laventille, yesterday where an unidentified man was fatally shot around 5.45 pm.
Investigations into both incidents are continuing.
