Post-Mortem Inconclusive in Orlando Jaikarran Death Investigation

The Guyana Times reported that a post-mortem examination performed on the decomposed, headless body of six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran, which was recovered from the Waterloo Main Canal in West Coast Berbice, has proven inconclusive. Senior Superintendent Lonsdale Whithrite, the Region Five Commander, confirmed on Wednesday that investigators are continuing to gather evidence regarding the suspected murder of the child. Orlando's body was found on Tuesday, which was five days after he was reported missing from Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), on Thursday, October 15.

The recovered body was missing its head, as well as sections of its left hand and right foot. Whithrite stated that efforts are ongoing to locate the missing remains as the investigation proceeds.

In connection with the case, the child's 45-year-old father, identified as the main suspect, and another man described as a pujari are currently in Police custody. Investigators have not publicly disclosed the extent of the second man's suspected involvement in Orlando's death.

The Guyana Police Force confirmed that during a search of the Bath Settlement residence where Orlando lived with his father and two siblings, six cutlasses and other items were seized. This search took place on Tuesday, and the recovered items were logged as exhibits awaiting further investigation. Police have not stated whether any of the seized cutlasses were linked to the child's injuries.

Preliminary investigations by Police suggested that the child may have been taken to the canal and allegedly chopped in the neck with a cutlass. The incident occurred on October 15, the same day Orlando was reported missing.

Dhankumarie Gowkarran, 65, the main suspect's mother, stated that Police informed her her son claimed to have killed Orlando after a religious spiritual leader allegedly told him that the six-year-old was not his biological child. The grandmother mentioned that this revelation surprised her because her son had never previously questioned the child's parentage when speaking with her.

Orlando was a student at Bath Primary School, where teachers described him as a quiet child who regularly attended classes. His absence from school the day before he was reported missing was noted as unusual and had caused concern for his class teacher. Furthermore, the six-year-old had shown athletic ability during the school's annual athletics championship last month, participating in four events and securing three victories, including the boys’ under-eight 80-metre and 160-metre races.

Police are continuing their investigation while efforts to find Orlando's missing remains and ascertain the circumstances of his death remain in progress.