Accusations of infidelity led to beating, teen’s death – boyfriend confesses
Body in Berbice River
The boyfriend of the 17-year-old Melissa Soman called “Lisa”, whose body was fished out of the Berbice River, has admitted that an argument over infidelity led to him beating her before she plunged overboard to escape his wrath.
The suspects being escorted by Police after visiting the scene of the crime
In a confession statement, the 22-year-old man said that Soman, of 58 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), was unfaithful to him and engaged in a relationship with his 48-year-old relative.
Initially, her boyfriend’s uncle, who was the captain of the boat from which the teen jumped, had told investigators that Soman said she and her boyfriend were having problems and she plunged overboard. He claimed that he too plunged overboard in an effort to save her but that proved futile. The 48-year-old labourer was taken into custody shortly after the girl’s lifeless body was discovered. However, the boyfriend in his confession claimed that he found out about the teen’s infidelity and started beating the teen and the boat captain as they were travelling in a small wooden boat. He told Police that Soman jumped overboard to save herself from him and the captain went overboard and rescued her. He admitted that when they were back in the boat, he started to beat both of them again and the teen again plunged overboard. However, on that occasion, she was not rescued.
Dead: Melissa Soman called “Lisa”
The body of 17-year-old Melissa Soman called “Lisa”, of 58 Stanleytown, New Amsterdam Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), was found floating in the vicinity of Gateroy some 50 miles up the Berbice River about 16 hours after she went missing and was feared drowned. Soman left her Stanleytown home in March to spend time with her boyfriend and returned briefly for the funeral of her boyfriend’s mother in May.
She had left her two-year-old son with her parents.
Meanwhile, the teenager’s mother, Shondell Cobena said her daughter was living with her boyfriend at DeVelt. She revealed that her daughter was pregnant with her second child. Police on Sunday took Adams and his uncle back to the scene where they were able to obtain further details about the incident.
Meanwhile, the Humanitarian Mission Guyana Inc has come forward to assist with Soman’s burial. Police are continuing their investigations. (Andrew Carmichael)
