Two women held in connection with Guyanese missing in Cayman Islands

Two women have been arrested in the Cayman Islands in connection with the disappearance of missing Guyanese Hemerson Raymond Gonzalez and police here say they have not been asked for any help with the case by their counterparts.

Police Crime Chief Seelall Persaud told Stabroek News that local police were not contacted.

The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said the duo was arrested last Wednesday morning and was being detained by the police in connection with the investigation relating to the missing Gonzalez, who also goes by the name Hemerson Acosta.

Hemerson Raymond Gonzalez
Hemerson Raymond Gonzalez

The first woman, a 25-year-old, of Canyon Dawn Drive, Savannah Grand Cayman was arrested on suspicion of being concerned with the possession of controlled drugs with intent to supply.

A 19-year-old also of the same area was arrested on suspicion of misleading the police and conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

This newspaper was unable to ascertain if the women were charged or remained in police custody.

Police on the island have reported that Gonzalez’s mother has been informed of the developments and is being supported by a RCIPS family liaison officer. The woman, Deborah Thompson, had left her home in Venezuela and transited in Guyana on her way to the island on December 23 last. She had told Stabroek News that she had spoken to RCIPS and was pleading with the public to come forward with any information that would assist with finding her son.

According to reports, Acosta had been staying with a male friend in Canyon Dawn Drive in the Spotts/Newland area. His friend told police that he told him he was ill and suffering from severe vomiting when he left the house.
Since leaving his friend’s residence, Acosta has not been in contact with friends nor has he sought medical attention as checks at hospitals and health facilities have turned up nothing, the reports noted.

The missing man is described as 5 ft 8 in tall, with a dark brown complexion and curly black hair which is about 1-1.5in in length. He weighs about 180 lbs and has a tattoo of a compass on his left forearm and writing tattooed on the inside of his left wrist.

When last seen, he was wearing brown jean shorts, a t-shirt and blue low cut cloth shoes, the reports added.
According to the reports, Cayman Police Superintendent Marlon Bodden is urging anyone who has seen Gonzalez or who is aware of his current whereabouts to contact the police immediately to ensure that he receives urgent welfare and medical attention.

The lead investigating officer in this disappearance is Detective Sergeant Charmane Huntley and she can be reached at the George Town Police Station Criminal Investigation Department at telephone number 949-4222. Information can also be passed on the following numbers 925-7240/ 926-3975, or via the confidential Crime Stoppers line 800-8477(TIPS) and the email address hemersonGonzalez@hotmail.com which has specially been set up for this case.