The police have launched a murder investigation into the death of Triumph resident Somaria Sookdeo following a post-mortem examination (PME) conducted yesterday which revealed that she died as a result of blunt trauma to the head and strangulation.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed with Stabroek News last evening that given the results of the PME, the investigation has taken a turn and the case is being treated as a murder.
Sookdeo, 75, called “Elsie” of Surat Drive, Triumph, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was discovered dead in her home last Monday, just hours after alerting her family that bandits were trying to get into her home.
There were suspected marks of violence on the body, including her forehead.
Her son-in-law, Krishna Sookdeo, had told Stabroek News that his wife received a call from her mother on the evening of March 20 where she said that bandits were trying to gain entry into the house. As a result, he said, they advised her to ensure the place was tightly locked and to secure her valuables.
However, the following morning, Krishna went to the house and made several attempts to gain entry after he called out for Somaria several times and got no response. He eventually removed some louvre panes, climbed through a window, and made the discovery.
A bag with $200,000 was found lying next to her body.
