Body found in ravine

POLICE are treating the death of a 54-year-old former Caroni (1975) Ltd worker, whose body was found yesterday in a ravine at the back of his Tarouba, San Fernando home, as a possible homicide. The body of Ralph Dyer was found 125 feet away from his home by villager Bodrick Heeralal, who at the time was searching for Dyer after he went missing yesterday morning. Dyer’s body was lying face down in shallow water at Tarouba Link Road, around 1.30 pm. His face had a gash near the right eye and two lengths of steel were discovered on the river bank. Police are working on two theories — either he was drunk and was stealing the lengths of steel from a nearby highway construction project site when he fell into the ravine, or he was attacked after catching someone else stealing the steel.

The police are now awaiting the results of an autopsy, before continuing their investigations. Although admitting Dyer was drunk at the time he went missing, the dead man’s sister-in-law, who only gave her name as Jennifer said she believed he may have been attacked. She said neighbours heard dogs barking and Dyer cursing. “But he used to play the radio and talk to himself and curse,” she said. The brother said he was very surprised when, on checking yesterday, he found the front door of the deceased’s home ajar but still did not think mischief was afoot. After the District Medical Officer viewed the body, it was removed to the Forensic Science Centre where an autopsy will be carried out today to ascertain the cause of death.