DNA test to confirm identity of remains found in Sophia

DNA testing will be used to confirm the identity of the remains of a man found on Monday in the ruins of a South Sophia house.

Rugel Henry is convinced that the remains are those of his brother Morvin Henry.

Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday, Rugel explained how he found and identified the body as his older brother. “I used to work in the interior so I was always in and out and since then he [his older brother] was missing for about 4 years,” he told Stabroek News. He said that Morvin who was a labourer would have been in his late 40s.

He said that Morvin was a very aggressive person since he was mentally ill and was not close to anyone. The man who lived by himself would often work at the Plaisance Market and then walk home every day.

“He was a madman but he always used to come back home,” Rugel said. The man was known well in his South Sophia community since he grew up there but Rugel explained that after people noticed him missing for some time they all assumed that he had fallen somewhere in town and had died.

Rugel further explained that after he had returned from the interior, his brother’s house had fallen so he decided to clear the land for his own use. “It was like a jungle all the grass was thick and I decide to start use the land and that is when I find the body,” he said, explaining that while he was in the process of removing the fallen zinc sheets from the collapsed house, he found the body lying on the floor.

He said he immediately contacted the police.

“I know it was he because he used to wear a lot of bangles on his hand which he still had. He front teeth were missing too and it was the same on the corpse,” he further added.

While the man was mentally ill, Rugel added that he was also sick with tuberculosis and would often neglect taking his medication.

A DNA test is set to confirm the identity of the man.