From: Newsday.
DANIEL FOUND DEADBy Stacy Moore and Nalinee Seelal Monday, February 21 2011
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The body of eight-year-old Daniel Guerra, who went missing near his home in Gasparillo last Friday, was found floating in a river off the Tarouba Link Road, San Fernando yesterday.
Daniel’s tiny body was showing signs of decomposition and police investigators said it was difficult to see any visible signs of violence.
Daniel, a standard two student of the Gasparillo Government Primary School, was last seen entering a vehicle at about midday near his home at Bedeau Street, Gasparillo last Friday.
Shortly before he disappeared, Daniel went to buy a drink at Sony’s Parlour near his home.
He was found with the clothes he was last seen wearing, a red short pants and white vest, but without any shoes.
Police report that at about 5 pm yesterday, a passenger in a maxi taxi proceeding along the Tarouba Link Road, raised an alarm when she spotted a body entangled in vines in the muddy river water. Police officers, who had been carrying out searches for Daniel nearby, were called to the scene.
At the same time, a cricket match was in progress at the Tarouba grounds.
Cricketer Rakesh Sookdeo said he left the grounds when the alarm was raised that a body had been found in the river.
“I saw the head of this little boy in the water and police officers and other men were trying to get the body on to the bank,” said Sookdeo. He helped by using a rope to lasso one of the child’s hands and the body was pulled out of the river.
Daniel, who lived with his grandparents Shirley and Randolph Indarsingh and his mother Rona, did not attend classes last Friday due to a head injury he sustained while playing. “He had left home just to buy a drink and after twenty minutes he never showed up. I became very worried,” Shirley told Newsday at the family’s home hours before her grandson’s body was discovered. “He begged me clasping his hands together, ‘Ma please let me go for the drink,’ and I let him go with the $20 his mother left for him before she went to work. And my baby never came back,” she cried. The owner of the shop said Daniel had purchased the drink and was heading to his home.
Rona and Daniel’s father, who lives in Tabaquite, have been separated for several years. Shirley said the boy’s father has visited the family’s home since last Friday and also organised searches.
Daniel, she said, was the joy of the family. “He was like our shining star such an intelligent boy and he always used to make you laugh and smile, he was a boy full of so much love.”
Before the family heard the news, relatives had distributed flyers with Daniel’s photograph in Tabaquite, San Fernando, Marabella and other areas.
Police closed off traffic at Tarouba Link Road, placing caution tape on both sides of the roadway.
Relatives identified Daniel’s body, as his mother was too distraught to look at him.
She was escorted to a police vehicle and briefly interviewed by officers before leaving with them.
ACP Fitzroy Frederick told reporters Daniel’s body was washed down the river during heavy rainfall. He said Daniel’s death was “ very tragic”. An autopsy is to be performed at the Forensic Science Centre, St James today.
Tabaquite MP Dr Suruj Rambachan spent close to two hours yesterday with members of Daniel’s relatives, praying with them hours before he was found.
“It is distressing to know that this has ended up this way and an innocent child has been killed. Whatever the circumstances the police must move aggressively to find the killers. I extend my condolences and sympathies to the family,” said Rambachan.
He is due to speak to Minister of the People Dr Glenn Ramadharsingh to have counselling provided for Daniel’s family and to discuss assistance for the boy’s funeral.
Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs said yesterday he was informed about the discovery of Daniel’s body. “This is a very tragic situation, and my team of officers will be working around- the-clock to bring closure to this investigation.”
He added he was awaiting a report from his team who were at the scene up to late yesterday.
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