Family, Minister call for inquest into death of nurse at Mahdia

Even as several theories regarding the alleged suicide of 26-year-old nurse, Schenise Apple, whose lifeless body was discovered at a hostel in Mahdia, Region Eight (Potaro-Siparuni), Public Health Minister, Volda Lawrence is calling for an inquest.
Apple’s body was found on July 2 after she did not report for duty at the Mahdia Hospital.
Minister Lawrence on Friday called for the inquest after meeting with Dexter Copeland and Shonette Apple, the parents of the deceased.
Initially, the Public Health Ministry, along with the Guyana Police Force (GPF), treated the investigation as a suspected suicide. However, following a meeting with the grieving family members, the Minister said that an inquest was necessary.
“I it is only in that way we will be able to have a deeper investigation into what really happened, so I am asking for an inquest… I am happy that I’m taking this step… All the answers to questions must come out in that inquest” Minister Lawrence is quoted by the Department of Public Information as saying. The family of Apple said that they have not yet received an official post-mortem report which states the cause of death. Meanwhile, the father, Dexter Copeland, had queries that he wished answered. The family also asked that the Public Health Ministry be more cognisant of the security at nurses’ quarters and hostels, especially in far-flung communities.
Meanwhile, a usually reliable source from Mahdia, Region Eight, told this publication that there are reports in the mining town that the nurse was murdered and the suicide was staged. “Everyone saying that the young lady was murdered. They are saying that from how the body was discovered, it was as if it was placed there and who would hang themselves with a towel? It just doesn’t add up,” the source opined.
To date, the results of the post-mortem examination (PME) conducted on the woman is yet to be made public.
Apple of Lot 323 Block 22, Linden, Region 10, was last seen after completing the night shift.
This publication understands that she retreated to the nurses’ hostel. Speaking with Guyana Times, another nurse said that no one saw Apple during the day but that was nothing strange.
“It is normal when you finish the night shift to sleep most of the day. So after no one saw her, we didn’t take it for anything,” a nurse told this publication.
However, at about 18:15h, another colleague inquired about Apple and it was then that they visited the hostel and found her body. It is suspected that the woman committed suicide since she was allegedly found hanging in her room. The police were notified and the woman’s body was removed. The police have since launched an investigation.