Funeral plans instead of Mother’s Day celebrations

“We were thinking about doing many things for her for Mother’s Day but none of the plans were confirmed. Whatever we decided on, obviously, she would have been at the centre of it. We are expecting some relatives from abroad to come, so the funeral might be on Monday or so,” said one of Ramdeen’s daughters.

Ramdeen worked as a foreman with the Forestry Division at Mafeking Village. Shortly after 12 noon on Wednesday, relatives found her body in the garage located at the front of her home off the Naparima/Mayaro Road in Bristol Village, Mayaro. Two of Ramdeen’s granddaughters, aged four and two, whom she was taking care of, were unharmed.

The suspected killer, Ramdeen’s estranged companion of 17 years Andrew Vasquez, 73, was killed moments after the gruesome discovery in a vehicular accident. Police believe the pensioner deliberately drove his Nissan B15 car into the path of an oncoming Jusamco Contractors Ltd truck which was proceeding in the opposite direction along the Naparima/Mayaro Road in Union Village, Mayaro.

Ramdeen and Vasquez shared a tempestuous, on-again/off-again relationship that spanned almost two decades. Vasquez, a father of six, lived at Stone Road in Piparo, with his wife of 53 years, Habiban Vasquez, 69, and other relatives.

Speaking at the family’s home, relatives described him as a family man who loved to help others.

However, they do not believe that Vasquez, a heart patient, intentionally caused the accident or killed Ramdeen. They recalled that the grandfather of seven was complaining of feeling unwell shortly before 9 am on Wednesday and went to, “take a rest” at home.

“He was not a violent man. Grandpa was always willing to help others. We know him, we know his heart...he is not a killer,” said a granddaughter. The family acknowledged that he had an “outside woman” for years and went to visit her after receiving a phone call from someone.

“Maybe when he reached, maybe he saw the body on the ground and he immediately left. It could have raised his anxiety and because of his heart problems caused the accident. Habiban is a stroke patient and also has diabetes. It is very traumatic for us,” another relative added. Since news of the murder/suicide broke, there have been several negative comments about Vasquez, who was a cricket lover.

“His death itself is very traumatic for us and may people are posting all sorts of things about him on social media. Even if he is innocent, they already tarnished his name,” she added.

An autopsy performed by pathologist Dr Hughvon Des Vignes at the Forensic Sciences Centre, St James stated that Vasquez died as a result of injuries consistent with that of a vehicular accident, police said. Police also said Ramdeen’s death was caused by the slit throat.