Deaf/mute found dead

“OH GOD!” Sharon Rangoo screamed loudly, when a gold anklet clasped around the left ankle, confirmed her worst fears that her abducted deaf/mute sister Annasher was dead.

The deaf/mute woman’s decomposing corpse was found by CEPEP worker Peter Lopez deep inside a teak forest yesterday morning, a stone’s throw away from the Rangoo house where last Sunday, a masked intruder unleashed a reign of terror — chopping three women and kidnapping the 20-year-old young woman. The gruesome discovery yesterday left seasoned police investigators wondering aloud as to what kind of person would kill a deaf and mute woman.

According to police reports, around 9.30 am, Lopez, 32, stumbled upon Rangoo’s body lying face up and fully clothed in a  teak forest 30 feet off Salmon Drive, Grove Park, Dow Village in South Oropouche. Officers from Pt Fortin, Oropouche and Fyzabad Police Stations  led by Insp Fitzgerald George (South Homicide Bureau) and Inspector Wells, immediately responded to an SOS call made by workers of the CEPEP gang. The party also included Cpl Oliver, Sgt Rampersad, PC Badry and PC Hunt. On learning that a body had been discovered, Sharon Rangoo went to the scene, where minutes later her anguished screams confirmed that the corpse was that of Annasher Rangoo.

The weeping Sharon positively identified the decomposing, un-recognisable corpse as her sister, after spotting a gold anklet, which belonged to Annasher, clasped around the left ankle of the body. Sharon was accompanied on the scene by her brother Sheldon and a close friend of the family. The victim’s mother Molly Rangoo, who has been in hiding since the chopping and kidnapping incident, was nowhere to be seen yesterday, even as news of her daughter’s body being found, spread far and wide.

Also visiting the scene was District Medical Officer (DMO) Dr Bhimsingh who ordered the body removed to the Forensic Science Centre, Federation Park, St James where an autopsy will be carried out on Monday. While the decomposed state of the corpse prevented any signs of violence from being visible, police strongly believe she was murdered. DMO Dr Bhimsingh told Newsday the body was about five days into the stage of decomposition.

Speaking with Newsday at the scene, CEPEP worker Lopez said he noticed corbeaux (vultures) flying around and dipping in and out of the teak woods near to the area he was working. “I noticed corbeaux and when I looked a little closer in the area where the vultures were, I just see a human foot sticking out. I didn’t even have to stay any longer. I just ran out of the woods and told the rest of the workers what I saw and they were the ones who called the police,” a shaken Lopez recounted. “Right now, with that discovery I feel like if I can’t eat or drink anything. I even think that I will get nightmares when I go to bed tonight and for a long time to come” he added.

When Newsday visited the Rangoo home, the gates were locked. However, a close family friend who gave his name as Joey Rehema said the family was in total shock and tremendous grief, and were in no condition to speak to the media. “I can’t understand why they would kill Annasher, she was such a nice girl — the whole situation is just so shocking and sad,” Rehema said. Annasher was kidnapped last Sunday from her Dow Village, South Oropouche home after her mother Molly Rangoo, sister Sharon Rangoo and sister-in law Cindy Rampersad, were chopped repeatedly by a masked, cutlass-wielding intruder, who stormed the house around 4 am, demanding cash.

On being discharged from the San Fernando General Hospital on Tuesday, Molly Rangoo disappeared — apparently still fearing for her life. Meanwhile, Sharon Rangoo was also discharged and in speaking with the media on Wednesday, pleaded for her deaf/mute sister to be freed unharmed. In the wake of the kidnapping, police interrogated ten persons, among them three Venezuelans. There were also unsubstantiated reports that police had impounded a car, believed to have been used in the abduction of Annasher. Up to late yesterday, no arrests had been made and Southern Division Homicide Bureau police are spearheading investigations into what is the 11th murder for the year.