Adrianna Younge’s drowning: Investigation still at evidence-gathering stage – Crime Chief

…more persons interviewed; footage being reviewed as int’l help arrives

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum on Monday revealed that the investigation into the death of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge is still at the evidence-gathering stage.
In fact, he said as of Monday, two more persons who were at the poolside on the day the child went missing – April 23 – had to be interviewed by detectives on the case.
Moreover, the Crime Chief noted that investigators are still combing through footage related to the incident, including video of the day the child went missing.
Younge was at the poolside of the now-gutted Double Day Hotel, Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) on April 23 with her grandmother and other relatives when she went missing. Relatives say they searched the pool and poolside area and the child was not found. The following day – less than 24-hrs later – the child’s body was found floating in the pool.

An autopsy conducted on the body of Adrianna Younge by three international pathologists revealed that she died as a result of drowning and that there were no signs of physical or sexual assault.
Additionally, DNA samples obtained from the hotel owner and those of the child was escorted by a forensic investigator for advanced testing and analysis to be conducted at the Mount Sinai Health System, New York.
According to the Crime Chief, when the evidence-gathering stage is completed, investigators will move on to evaluate and examine the evidence against several theories and possibilities.
Thereafter, a case file will be sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal opinion.
“Examining every detail”
So far, Blanhum noted that detectives have taken statements from a “substantial amount of persons”. They are “examining every detail” relating to the incident, the Crime Chief added. These include photos and video evidence.
In fact, Blanhum has said they were able to garner footage from the poolside “prior to/at the same time an alarm was raised that she was missing.”
However, he noted that the footage is not from the hotel’s security system; he said the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) forensic analysts have confirmed that the facility’s cameras were not working.
The Crime Chief also assured that “the investigators are very objective” and that he has instructed them to ensure “they do not disregard any information or any evidence during this probe.”
Nonetheless, retired member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Leonard McCoshen, has arrived in the country to assist the GPF with their investigation into the child’s death.
McCoshen is a trained and qualified homicide and suspicious death investigator, with over 30 years of experience as an investigator of the RCMP. He had spent 20 of those years attached to the Serious Crimes Branch (SCB) in the Major Crimes Unit (MCU), with the mandate to investigate serious, complex and sensitive matters, mainly homicides and deaths where foul play was suspected.
Meanwhile, the Crime Chief has also confirmed that the owner of the now-gutted double day hotel is complying with his conditions, which is to report to the police station daily. The hotel owner is also barred from leaving the jurisdiction.
The GPF has faced intense public scrutiny over its handling of the case. Among other things, the GPF had issued a statement, containing inaccurate information that the child was seen leaving the hotel in an identifiable motorcar.
The GPF subsequently admitted to the error and the person responsible for providing the false report was sent on leave. Moreover, the driver of the motorcar that was identified has since sued the State for $100 million.
Furthermore, two police officers have since been relieved of their duties while the commander of the region at the time of the incident, Khalid Mandal, was sent on administrative pending the outcome of the investigation.