Burnt body found in bamboo patch

VILLAGERS stumbled upon a badly burnt and decomposing body in a bamboo patch in  a forested area off Sewlal Trace, Pepper Village, Fyzabad, on Wednesday.

Police believe the body may be that of 83-year-old Joseph Bernard, a pensioner, of Bamboo Trace, Fyzabad, who went missing nine days ago. 

The body was found around 8.30 am, about a mile inside the Petrotrin Fields located to the back of Bernard’s house. The grisly discovery was made by a group of villagers, including the pensioner’s two children, who had been searching for him since last weekend.

Because of the advance stage of decomposition and extensive burns to the body, police could not say whether the body bore any marks of violence. They believe the body may have been burnt during a bush fire since bushes in the surrounding area were also burnt.

Investigators are working on the theory that the man may have committed suicide after becoming frustrated over a relationship with a young woman. However, they have not ruled out foul play  and are searching for two women who may be able to assist them in their investigations.

The pensioner, a father of six and grandfather of 14, lived alone and was said to be an active member of the Oropouche Anglican Church.

Bernard’s neighbour, Thomas Julien, the last person to see him alive, said he saw the elderly man walking at the back of his house, around 7 am last Tuesday.

Following the discovery of the body, officers from the Siparia CID, Fyzbad Police Station and San Fernando Homicide Bureau, led by Insp Valdez, including Ag Insp Harry, Sgt Wells and Ramlal, Cpl Flanders, Ag Cpls Dodough and Hunt, WPC Johnson and PC Dhipaul, visited the scene.

District Medical Officer Dr Ian Furlonge viewed the charred remains and ordered its removal to the Forensic Sciences Centre, Port-of-Spain, where a post mortem is expected to be performed today.

Bernard’s son, Layne, 49, a teacher who was in the search party that found his father, said after they made a report on Friday, they started searching for the elderly man.

“We found it strange that he was missing because he doesn’t eat or sleep out,” he said.

Layne told Newsday that while walking through the bushes, they encountered a foul stench which they followed.

“We saw a hand sticking out and we knew that this was him,” he said.

Pointing out that his father was a healthy man, Layne said he did not believe Bernard, who celebrated his birthday on March 1, would have killed himself.