Maggot-infested body of woman found in Montrose

POLICE officers suspect foul play in the death of Gangawatie Davy, whose nude and decomposing body was discovered in her bedroom at her Fitt Street, Montrose home yesterday. The body was discovered by a neighbour of the 65-year-old woman who was alerted by a foul stench emanating from the house. The man made a check and saw the maggot-infested body of the woman lying on her back in one of the three bedrooms of the house. The front door was open. Officers of the Chaguanas CID were alerted and a party of officers led by Inspector Burt Raphael, Sgt Dennis Housend, Ag Sgt Ajith Persad and Cpl Salick went to the scene along with District Medical Officer Dr Birja. Initial tests by Dr Birjah revealed that the hands of the victim were bound, and her face appeared to have been covered and tied with a piece of cloth.

She also appeared to have been sexually assaulted, but due to the state of decomposition of the body, investigators could not determine how the woman was killed. The house did not appear to be ransacked. Ramakrishna Persad, the nephew of the woman said that the last time he saw Davy alive was on October 26. He said that Davy appeared to be in good health and he was unsure why anyone would carry out any criminal acts against an elderly citizen. Davy depended on handouts from relatives and lived alone. Officers of the Homicide Bureau and the Crime Scenes Unit went to the house and searched for clues. Davy is the 192nd person to be murdered for the year so far. An autopsy will be carried out today at the Forensic Science Centre. Ag Sgt Ajith Persad is investigating.