Mother, child in BV fire died of smoke inhalation – autopsy

The 26-year-old woman and her one-year-old child who were among three persons killed in an early morning fire last Sunday, died as a result of smoke inhalation, according to post-mortem examinations.

Latoya Telford and her daughter Nakasia Pollard were reportedly set on fire by Telford’s jilted lover, Leonard Pollard, who hung himself after starting the blaze. The charred remains of the three persons were pulled from the ruins hours after the fire was extinguished.

Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum could not confirm rumours that the woman and the child’s limbs were severed before they were set alight. He noted that the post-mortem examinations did not prove that was the case. He however redirected questions pertaining to the removal of the charred remains to fire officials.

When contacted, Divisional Operations Officer, Compton Sparman noted that he was not in receipt of any information that the limbs of the woman and her daughter might have been severed before the house was set alight.

Nevertheless, he confirmed that once the duo died as a result of smoke inhalation, it meant that they were still alive when the fire started.

Based on reports received, Pollard and Telford shared a rocky relationship but things got worse after the jealous man reportedly found several text messages in the woman’s phone that were allegedly from another man.

The woman who was at her grandfather’s residence prior to the blaze was reportedly invited to Pollard’s house after his brother left for work. The woman, however, did not go alone but rather took the couple’s one-year-old daughter with her.

Guyana Times understands that an argument was heard between the two as the child cried in the house, after which there was silence for a while. However, not long after, huge flames were seen emanating from the two-storey wooden structure.

It is believed that Pollard reportedly tied the woman and their daughter together, doused them with a flammable substance and set them alight. After doing so, he hung himself. The charred remains of the child and her mother were found together.

The woman’s mother who was too distraught to speak, confirmed the couple was having serious issues due to his family. She said she had encouraged her daughter to return home since there was an extra room. In tears, she noted that Telford took up her offer but it was not long after she was lured back to the house by Pollard.

The woman noted that her daughter and Pollard have been together for the past one and a half years and on many occasions, she was forced out of the house due to constant interference from the man’s relatives.

The dead man’s brother confirmed that the couple was having problems and he would have encouraged Pollard to move on with his life.

It was reported that three days ago, Pollard collected the woman’s phone and gave it to his brother who read the text messages, thus confirming that the woman was involved with someone else. This prompted Pollard to carry out the heinous act.