No arrest yet in Bell West pensioner’s murder

Detectives are continuing the probe into the death of 68-year-old pensioner Ursilla Padarta, although they are yet to finger the woman’s killer.
Padarta, called “Data,” of Lot 566 Bell West, Canal #2 Polder, WBD, was found dead last Wednesday morning in a sitting position in a chair in her living room. Her body bore a stab wound to the neck and another to the head.
The discovery was made by a carpenter who had gone to discuss the construction of a sceptic tank that the woman had planned on doing.
According to the Police, the woman was killed at some time after 19:45h on Tuesday and 07:30h on Wednesday. The murder weapon – an ice pick – was reportedly found in the house.
Guyana Times was told that the woman had called a relative to talk about the construction works at some time around 20:00h last Tuesday; and at the time, the contractor was at her house. The following morning, the man informed relatives of her demise after reportedly stumbling on her dead body.
The contractor, whom the woman had known because he would usually go to her house to spend time, had found Padarta’s door locked from the outside. He opened it and went inside, and made the gruesome discovery.
Padarta’s nephew, Naresh Singh, believes the woman was killed after the phone call on Tuesday night.“She was sitting on the chair with a stab wound to her neck, so it gotta be that it happen last night; because, too, her door wasn’t closed from inside; it look like she was watching TV or something and wasn’t ready to lock up as yet,” he said.
According to neighbours, the pensioner, who lived alone, usually locked up her home late in the nights. However, they did not recall hearing or seeing anything strange the night before.
Meanwhile, this publication understands that the woman had collected approximately $123,000 cash, which was sent by her grandson from overseas on Tuesday to do the works. Her handbag which contained the money, cell phone and other documents, has gone missing.
On the other hand, Guyana Times was also informed that investigators were on the hunt for a known junkie in the village, who had an argument with the now dead woman on Tuesday and was heard threatening to “deal with her” later.
While neighbours could not say the reason behind the row between Padarta and the junkie, they suspect he might have gone to steal from the woman. According to nearby residents, he was last seen around the area earlier on Wednesday, shortly after the discovery was made.