Senior Reporter
anna-lisa.paul@guardian.co.tt
The remains of a pensioner who was reported missing since last Tuesday, were found burnt in a concrete pit in his backyard yesterday.
The bones collected from a smouldering make-shift pyre were believed to be that of 67-year Dalipram Jadoo, of Las Lomas #3.
The victim was said to have suffered a stroke and was bedridden before he went missing.
According to relatives, the victim was last seen by a female relative on Tuesday when she went to take food for him.
It was said that when the woman returned on Wednesday morning and realised Jadoo was missing, she raised an alarm and was told by a male relative who was staying with him, that he had probably gone out.
Although checks were made by other relatives in and around the house, no one suspected anything as gruesome as was discovered yesterday.
Residents living close by said they observed yesterday that the male relative had lit a fire in the pit, which had been erected at the back of the unfinished house. However, they said he was known for lighting rubbish ever so often and would say he was “smoking out mosquitoes.”
But neighbours said his behaviour between 8 pm on Tuesday and 3 am on Wednesday appeared to be suspicious.
One man said he questioned the relative about what he had been burning and was simply told “rubbish” along with discarded plastic material.
Guardian Media was told that a foul scent was detected and when questioned, the 40-year-old suspect claimed another relative had thrown a dead dog into the fire, which he had kept stoking.
The Hunters’ Search and Rescue Group’ led by Captain Vallence Rambharat’ were called in yesterday to assist in the search by worried relatives.
Arriving at the house around 11 am, as part of their initial search, the group saw the fire and was informed by the suspect that it was a usual thing for him to burn rubbish.
Rambharat said his group trekked into the bushes behind the house but saw nothing to lead them to think the victim had been dragged through there.
Circling back to the house where they found the suspect sitting in the porch, members said their suspicions were aroused by his odd behaviour, as he kept walking to the pit to stoke the fire.
One of the team members said he stuck his cutlass into the mound of ashes and began sifting it apart and then noticed what appeared to be a human vertebrae, a torso and other bones in the ashes.
He later alerted the rest of the group who arrived at the house. They contacted the police, who placed the suspect in a room.
Guardian Media understands the suspect arrived from Canada three months ago and had been invited to stay with the victim, who lived alone.
Relatives gathered at the house last evening expressed shock and horror over the gruesome murder. They claimed the suspect was a substance abuser.