As the probe into the death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge continues, President Dr Irfaan Ali has assured the grieving family and Guyanese that he and his government honoured the requests made.
“Everything that I’ve committed to in the case. We’ve brought in the independent pathologist, and they have done their work. Then there’s an independent investigator in,” President Ali told reporters at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Monday.
The investigator he mentioned is Leonard McCoshen, a retired officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, on Monday, confirmed that McCoshen is scheduled to arrive in Guyana Monday night to assist in the investigation.
Lawyers meet Police Commissioner in search for answers in Adriana Younge’s case
The government engaged Mr. McCoshen after Adriana’s family requested that international law enforcement bodies be engaged by the Government of Guyana to investigate the young girl’s death.
For her autopsy, three international pathologists were brought to Guana. They are: Dr Glenn A. Rudner of Mount Sinai Hospital, New York; Dr Shubhakar Karra Paul, a government-appointed pathologist from Barbados; and Dr Gary L. Collins, Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Delaware, who was chosen by Adrianna’s family.
The President was specifically asked if the government would seek the assistance of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to aid in the investigation.
“I’ve done what I said I would have done. The political handlers are now at work aggressively. Let the political handles deal with what they want to,” President Ali told reporters.
US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, told reporters that the FBI could possibly assist with the investigations, but such a request would have to be made by the Government of Guyana.
Speaking at the sidelines at the event at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Theoriot reportedly explained that once the government makes a request, the FBI would then determine how they can support the local probe.
US Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theoriot, engaging reporters (Photo: News Room/ June 14, 2024)
The investigation into the death of Adriana is at the evidence-gathering stage. Detectives are “examining several possibilities and theories,” which will be evaluated against the evidence gathered, Blanhum told reporters on Monday.
Asked about the Younge family’s confidence in the investigation, Blanhum responded: “We have selected the best [investigators] to work on this matter, and the investigators are very objective. I’ve instructed them to ensure that they do not disregard any information or any evidence during this process.”
Adriana went missing at the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen on April 23. Her body was discovered in the hotel’s pool on April 24.
The Crime Chief revealed that the relatives of the young girl were questioned over the weekend and that at least two more individuals who were at the pool will also be questioned.
The owner was arrested and later released after the statutory detention period expired. Blanhum also addressed this.
“The hotel owner, there were certain conditions imposed on him, he has to continue reporting to the police on a daily basis [and] also prohibited from leaving the jurisdiction,” Blanhum said on Monday.
He further added that “The investigators are in possession of video footage prior, or at the same time when an alarm was raised that she [Adriana] was missing,” Blanhum said.
The Younge family, who have postponed Adriana’s funeral since her passing on 24 April, are hoping for significant investigative progress before laying her to rest.
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