Body in French Guiana: Autopsy confirms gunshot wound in Guyanese woman’s head

…decomposed body to be buried in French Guiana; husband allegedly released on bail

The mystery surrounding the death of 34-year-old Coretta Blair Sandy has deepened following the results of an autopsy conducted in French Guiana on Wednesday, which confirmed that the mother of one died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Sandy’s mother, Tricia Sandy, told this publication that her daughter’s father, who is currently in French Guiana working with police and finalising funeral arrangements, called her shortly after the post-mortem to deliver the devastating news. “He said a bullet was found lodged in her head,” the grieving mother disclosed.
The young woman’s body, which was discovered on Sunday in a swampy area near Cayenne, was in an advanced state of decomposition. Due to the condition of the remains, the family has been advised that her body cannot be transported back to Guyana. Instead, she will be laid to rest in Cayenne.
Meanwhile, Coretta Blair Sandy’s husband, who had travelled with her to French Guiana and later returned to Guyana alone, has been released from police custody. According to Tricia Sandy, they visited the Cove and John Police Station and were informed on Wednesday that the man was placed on bail and is now required to report to the station every morning.
Coretta Blair Sandy was reported missing earlier this month after she travelled to Suriname on May 29 with her husband. The woman was expected to return to Guyana within a few days. However, Coretta stopped communicating with her family, prompting her mother to raise an alarm.
According to relatives, her husband later returned to Guyana alone and allegedly gave conflicting accounts about her whereabouts. He reportedly claimed they were ambushed in Suriname and that Coretta was shot in the head, but he was unable to say exactly where the incident occurred.
A missing person’s report was filed, and the story gained public attention after her mother spoke out about the lack of urgency from authorities. “We usually talk every day. Something wasn’t right,” she had told the media.
On June 16, Tricia’s worst fears were confirmed when authorities in French Guiana found her daughter’s decomposing body near the residence she had been staying at.
The discovery intensified pressure on law enforcement in French Guiana to determine what led to her death. According to Tricia, she was told that her daughter’s husband would be held for 72 hours until there is communication from French Guiana. She claimed that she pleaded with police to hold the man and to make contact with French Guiana authorities. The family is now calling for a thorough and transparent investigation. The mother has expressed concern over the suspect’s release.