Decomposed body of missing boy washes up in Essequibo

The decomposing body of eight-year-old Devon ‘Luke’ Gibson, who disappeared last Saturday following a swimming expedition at the Kingston Seawall, washed up at the Hampton Court foreshore, Essequibo Coast early yesterday morning.

The body of Gibson, of Lot 9-10 Queen Street, South Cummingsburg, washed ashore sometime around 4am. His mother, Docota Agard, said she was informed by a friend that her son’s body was found on the Essequibo Coast and she immediately travelled there. She said she initially identified him using a picture on a cellular phone and she was later taken to the Suddie Hospital Mortuary where she was allowed to see the lad’s body.

Agard told Stabroek News that Gibson’s face was disfigured, with his eyes, nose and ears missing. One of his hands was also severed.

Devon Gibson

“I identified him by his head because it is big and his foot… I know my son because of his big head,” she said, when asked how she was able to identify the decomposing body.

The family has since transferred the body to Lykens Funeral Parlour in the city and a post-mortem examination is expected to be performed on his body tomorrow.

Gibson drifted away in rough waters on Saturday last, when he went swimming with others.