DEAD FOR DAYS

The bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition, police said.

The gruesome discovery was made at 7 pm by someone who went to check on the two after detecting a foul stench in the area and not seeing them for days. The fact that the house was ransacked had led police to suspect foul play in the death of the women.

Shocked residents told Newsday that Bernard was a wealthy philanthropist who hired no one in her business and kept to herself.

In fact, only Bernard and her daughter living in the palatial dwelling place at the corner of Gonzalez Street and SS Erin Road in De Gannes Village.

Bernard’s three other children, all who live abroad, are expected home shortly.

According to reports, mother and daughter were last seen by neighbours last week Wednesday.

“Miss Baby was a charitable woman...

always giving. She was wellloved by all,” a resident said. Expressing shock over the deaths was former parish priest of La Divina Pastora Catholic Church Siparia Fr Martin Sirju.

“I remember them, they came to church often. They sat to the back and were always polite, humble, kind, always smiling and would greet me after mass. I am still in a state of shock and can’t believe this has happened,” Fr Sirju said, adding, “They were real nice people.

Everyone is shaken up with this.” Daughter Kathy Ann Bernard who lived in Florida, returned home a few years ago to take care of her elderly mother and was her right hand ever since. “Kathy Ann was the one who drove her around and she (the mother) was teaching her all about the real estate business.

This is a shock to everyone in the community because they never troubled anyone. They did everything for themselves,” said a friend of the victims.

Bernard was the owner of several prime properties, both commercial and residential in Siparia, Penal, Fyzabad and environs and was once the proprietor of La Pastora Poultry Farm at High Street Siparia. Chairman of the Siparia Regional Corporation Dr Glenn Ramdharsingh yesterday issued a call for communities to set up neighbourhood watch groups under the guidance of the relevant authorities.

“I have been able to confirm the police report into this matter, that the deceased women may have been victims of a home invasion.

Crime is strangling the lifeblood of our nation and we all need to unite and redouble our efforts to rid this society of this destructive and life taking scourge.

“I have learnt that a neigbour of the deceased women reported the matter to the police due to the foul stench emanating from the home.

Community leaders should start organizing neighbourhood watch groups under the proper guidance of the relevant authorities,” Ramadharsingh said.

Both bodies were removed to the Forensic Science Centre in St James for autopsies expected to be done today.

Visiting the scene were Head of the South Western Division Snr Supt Balram along with Supt Galindo and Insp Corrie of the Homicide Bureau Region Three.