Well-known doctor Colin Roach was on Tuesday night discovered dead at his Kingston, Georgetown clinic and investigators probing his murder have since arrested three persons, including two of his employees, for questioning.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) confirmed that the lifeless body of Roach, 49, of Windsor Estate, East Bank Demerara, was discovered around 22.30 hrs on Tuesday in a pool of blood at the International Medical Clinic.
His forehead bore a wound.
It is suspected that he was attacked sometime between 15:00 hrs and 22.20 hrs at the clinic, which is situated at Lot 111 Duke Street, Kingston, Georgetown. The motive for Roach’s killing remains unknown.
However, the suspect/s stole Roach’s Audi-brand vehicle, PXX 4000, which was driven from the location shortly before the discovery, as well as his two cellular phones.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum yesterday confirmed to Stabroek News that three persons were detained for questioning.
Blanhum said investigators were pursuing two other suspects – two males — who were seen entering and exiting Roach’s office.
As of last night, he said there was no trace of Roach’s vehicle.
According to the GPF’s statement, the employees said that the clinic was opened for business between 07:00 hrs and 15:00 hrs on Tuesday.
After the clinic closed, the police said, one of Roach’s employees went out for a while and the other retired to his living quarters, which are situated in the upper flat of the three-storey building that houses the clinic.
The men left Roach in his office in the middle flat of the building, the police noted.
It is alleged that about 20.00 hrs a male was seen exiting the building. The man returned about seven minutes later and re-entered the clinic.
More than two hours after, the police said, Roach’s vehicle was driven out of Duke Street in a northern direction
According to the police, it was further observed that the lights in the doctor’s office were still on. This prompted one of his male workers to call Roach on his cellular phone but he got no answer, the police said.
As a result, the other male employee was then alerted and using hisr office key, he went to switch off the lights but discovered Roach’s body.
The police were immediately summoned.
When Stabroek News visited the scene yesterday, the crime scene was still cordoned off and investigators were present.
Family members, including Roach’s wife and his staff, had gathered near the building. They declined to comment on his death.
The news of Roach’s death came as a shock those who knew him.
“What and who could have done this to you?” one of his friends, Jason Renville, questioned in a post on Facebook.
Another friend, Tageanindra Kishore, called for justice. “Just can’t believe you are gone in such a horrific way. OMG (Oh my God) why you?” she wrote in a post.
“Murdered? In his office, Why?” Kishore further asked.
‘Genuine national asset’
Roach was well-known in the medical fraternity for his contributions in his field.
He worked as the Director of the National Public Health Laboratory and was a Consultant to the United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Health said the country has lost a “genuine national asset.”
“Guyana has lost one of its young, but experienced doctors. Significantly, our country has lost one of its most experienced Biomedical pathologists”, the statement said.
According to the Ministry, Roach was part of the “pioneering” team that began revolutionising laboratory science in Guyana.
It said he began the transformation of manual procedures to automated technology.
PCR (DNA) testing was also pioneered by Roach, the statement added.
At the time of his death, the statement said that Roach was in close discussion with the Ministry of Health as it is embarking on a new era of transformation for chemical pathology.
“When PEPFAR [the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief] worked with the MOH to establish the National Public Health Reference Laboratory (NPHRL), Dr Roach was the person that led the technical team under the then Minister of Health that put together the plan,” the statement said.
Roach was also the former Chairman of the National Sports Commission.
