Suspicious text messages

A 42-year-old machine operator at Nestle who was trying to kill his wife by spiking her drinks with poison, decided to fast track his plans on Friday when he used a wire cord to strangle her at their Dyette Trace, Cunupia home.

The killer Stephen Salazar, then ingested gramoxone and died at the Chaguanas Health Centre.

Indra Radaye Rampersad Salazar’s problem began one month ago when she returned from a trip to North America.

The woman received several text messages on her phone causing Salazar to accuse her of being unfaithful.

The 42-year-old accountant who worked at the Customs and Excise Building at Nicholas Court in Port-of-Spain, confided to relatives that she strongly suspected that her husband was placing poison in her drinks.

On Thursday afternoon she told a female relative that after consuming a drink prepared by her husband, she saw a powdery substance at the bottom of the glass. She confronted her husband about her suspicions but he denied it.

Police investigators believe that Salazar hatched a plot to kill his wife on Friday. He waited until his sons, Brandon, 17, and Fabien, 16, had left the house and decided to carry out the premeditated murder.

Salazar used a wire cord to strangle his wife and then ingested gramoxone.

The bodies were discovered by Brandon around 5 pm on Friday. The teenager remained traumatised yesterday.

Around 5 pm Brandon, a student of John Donaldson Technical Institute arrived home from school and discovered the body of his mother in her bedroom with a wire cord tied around her neck. She appeared to be dead.

In the bathroom of the house, he discovered his father in the shower, water pouring down his face. He was frothing and a bottle of gramoxone was nearby.

The frantic teenager contacted the Cunupia Police and a party of officers led by Inspector Stephen Ramsubhag and Cpl Terrance Williams along with District Medical Officer Dr Khatri went to the scene. The body of Indra was ordered removed to the Forensic Science Centre while Salazar, who was still alive, was rushed to the Chaguanas Health Centre. He died around 7 pm.

Police seized two bottles which they believe contained gramoxone.

Neighbours of the couple said that they began living at Dyette Trace, eight years ago, and appeared to be very much in love, never displaying any behaviour to suggest that they were having problems.

Fabien Salazar said yesterday that he was still in a state of disbelief over his parents’ deaths. His mother was supposed to celebrate her 43rd birthday on Tuesday and a birthday party was planned.

Sunday Newsday learned that the couple both took Friday off from work to discuss the state of their marriage.

Homicide officers told Sunday Newsday that blood samples taken from Indra will determine what type of poison she was being given.

An autopsy will be carried out tomorrow. One hundred and eighty two persons have been murdered for the year.