GUYANA - The investigation into the death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge is at the evidence-gathering stage. This is according to Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum, who spoke with reporters at...
the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on Monday. Detectives are “examining several possibilities and theories,” which will be evaluated against the evidence gathered, Blanhum stated. He also confirmed that Leonard McCoshen, a retired officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) will arrive in Guyana Monday night to assist in the investigation. McCoshen has been engaged by the Government of Guyana. He is a trained and certified expert in homicide and suspicious death investigations.
Asked about the Younge family’s confidence in the investigation, Blanhum responded: “We have selected the best [investigators] to work on this matter, and the investigators are very objective. I’ve instructed them to ensure that they do not disregard any information or any evidence during this process.” Adriana went missing at the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen on April 23. Her body was discovered in the hotel’s pool on April 24. “We anticipate we will be able to question at least two more individuals who were at the pool on the day that Adriana Younge went,” Blanhum said.
The owner was arrested and later released after the statutory detention period expired. Blanhum also addressed this. “The hotel owner, there were certain conditions imposed on him, he has to continue reporting to the police on a daily basis [and] also prohibited from leaving the jurisdiction,” Blanhum said on Monday. He further added that: “The investigators are in possession of video footage prior, or at the same time when an alarm was raised that she (Adriana) was missing,” Blanhum said. The Younge family, who have postponed Adriana’s funeral since her passing on 24 April, are hoping for significant investigative progress before laying her to rest. (Newsroom Guyana)