DNA samples to be taken from burnt couple’s relatives

Speaking with Newsday yesterday, pathologist Dr. Valery Alexandrov said that the bodies of the couple were burnt beyond recognition, so autopsies could not be performed.

Alexandrov said that the next step was to acquire DNA samples from relatives of the victims to make positive identifications. He said tissue samples would be suitable for DNA. When the samples are obtained, then they would be analysed. Yesterday police officers were making arrangements for blood samples to be taken from the relatives. Although it is unclear how the couple met their demise, police suspect that it is a case of murder/suicide.

Newsday learnt that Marchan, 48, had been so “frustrated” after being recently estranged from his wife Ardia Yearwood-Marchan, 45, that he went on leave for ten days. Marchan worked as a civilian mechanic at the Mon Repos Fire Station. Yearwood-Marchan worked as a dance teacher at the La Romaine High School. According to a police report, at about 7.02 pm on Wednesday, an anonymous caller alerted Fyzabad Police that a vehicle was seen on fire at Forest Reserve in Fyzabad. Police officers responded where they observed an Izuzu pick-up on fire and contacted the Fire Services. Fire-fighters doused the blaze and on checking, the charred remains were found in the front seat of the twin-cab pickup.

The vehicle was traced to Peter Marchan. At the couple’s home, police officers found blood splashes inside but no sign of forced entry or missing items to suggest robbery.

The couple had been married for 12 years and had no children.

Investigations are continuing