Leon Waddel, the man who is accused of killing Kuru Kururu resident Answar Stoll just over four months ago, was arrested by the police on Friday.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed to Sunday Stabroek that ranks of the Criminal Investigation Department’s Major Crimes Unit, acting on intelligence received, arrested Waddel around 5pm.
At the time, Blanhum said, Waddel was hiding in a fowl pen in front of his relatives’ Kuru Kuru home. He was taken into custody and is reportedly cooperating with the police.
It is suspected that Stoll, called ‘Red Man,’ 46, of Dadrima Savannah, Kuru Kururu, Linden/Soesdyke Highway, was murdered sometime between November 15 and November 16, 2020 at his home.
In December last year, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) had said that Waddel, whose last known address is Fourth Creek, Kuru Kuru, Linden/ Soesdyke Highway, was wanted for questioning in relation to the murder of Stoll.
Relatives of Stoll had filed a missing person report with the police on December 14, 2020, after attempts to contact him proved futile and a search at his home uncovered signs of foul play.
Stoll’s brother, Harvey, had previously told to this newspaper that the man was last seen and heard from on November 15, 2020.
Harvey had explained that his mother, who resides overseas, telephoned him on December 14, 2020 after she tried unsuccessfully for three weeks to reach Answar.
As a result, he noted that a cousin journeyed to Answar’s house. While it appeared to be locked, the cousin managed to gain entry into the house through a window. Upon entering, he said the man noticed that the house was ransacked and there were spots of what appeared to be blood “splattered” around.
Most of Answar’s personal belongings were also discovered missing.
The cousin subsequently left and informed the police of the situation. He lodged a missing person report the same day.
About two weeks after Answar was reported missing, Harvey said rumours started to spread of what might have happened. “…That he was killed in the house and he was disposed of and that some other person that he live with threatened him,” Harvey had added.
Harvey stated he was unaware that his brother lived with anyone. He added that Waddel was later pinpointed as the individual who lived with Answar.
He further related that he was told that Answar and about four others, including Waddel, were consuming alcohol when Answar reportedly asked Waddel to leave his place. According to Harvey, Waddel was reportedly embarrassed as a result of this and he allegedly attacked Answar.
Although murder is suspected, Stoll’s body has not yet been found.
However, police had previously intensified their search for Waddel after new evidence had surfaced in the matter.
A police source close to the investigation had told this newspaper that investigators travelled to Third Creek, Kuru Kururu in search for Answar’s cellular phone.
While the phone was not located, ranks discovered several damaged parts, identified to be those from Answar’s phone, which he had purchased shortly before he went missing.
The ranks also conducted a further search during which they recovered a wheelbarrow belonging to Answar.
