With no one in custody based on the last statement issued by the Guyana Police Force in relation to the double murder and family members not being informed as to the progress of the investigation, this gruesome double murder could be heading in the direction of another cold case in the hands of the police.
Haven’t been unsuccessful in making any breakthrough in the crime, the Police in Berbice were forced to hand over the investigations to Major Crimes at the Criminal Investigations Department in Georgetown.
31-year-old Melissa Arokium, a businesswoman and her eight-year-old son, Anthony Arokium were brutally killed between 06 hours and 13 hours in their Lot 189 Mangrove Street, Rose Hall Town Corentyne home on August 23, 2023.
The discovery was made by Melissa’s 26 year old brother, Nicholas Arokium, a vendor who plies his trade at the Rose Hall Town Market. He had visited his sister’s home to use her washroom when he stumbled upon her dead body while entering the building and immediately alert relatives and the police. It was when the police arrived at the scene that they discovered that her eight-year-old was also brutally killed while in his bed.
Investigations so far indicated that Melissa sustained multiple chopped wounds to the back of her neck, one wound to the left waist and one chopped wound to the left upper hand. Examination conducted on the body of her son revealed he had several chop wounds to his right side head, and face.
A statement released by the police following the double murder would later revealed that four persons were taken into custody and were assisting with the ongoing investigation. Those persons were 33-year-old Cerano Arokium, the eldest brother of Melissa, the brother that discovered Melissa’s body, 26-year-old Nicholas Arokium, the boyfriend of the victim, 37-year-old Shailendra Umrao of Belvedere, Corentyne Berbice, and a neighbor of the victims, 38-year-old Deo Naris of Mangrove Street, Rose Hall Town, Corentyne Berbice.
However, they were all released on station bail.
Family members on Tuesday, told reporters that they are not satisfied with the progress of the investigations thus far while noting that the family is being treated as the suspect in the crime while having to mourn the death of their loved ones. Melissa’s grandmother, Ruth Hintzen noted that family members are contending that investigators might be looking into the wrong direction to investigate but are hoping that a thorough investigation is done.
Grandmother of the deceased – Ruth Hintzen
“We are, I don’t know what to say crazy about it, because the first thing that got me crazy is when I see my granddaughter on the ground and the chops and then the boy on the bed…if the police aint giving nobody chance to go in the home then who get that permission to take out these pictures and post them online, I never see no murder so” the grieving woman related.
Hintzen disclosed that based on information they received, it would seems as though Anthony was attacked first in his bed and the attacker waited on Melissa to return home from the market where she went earlier. She said the electric bike with the bag containing the items were found outside of the building.
When asked whether she is aware of any instances of her granddaughter having any problem with anyone, Hintzen revealed that she would have heard that the boyfriend would often time get annoyed when the Melissa’s son is around. She related that her great grandson would have confided in his uncles about those instances.
“He does tell he uncles them how the bai does vex when he go near she and she does tell the boy (boyfriend) if he want talk me you have to talk to Anthony first, if you want to talk to me, talk to he first if you gonna come near me” She recalled.
According to the Hintzen, her granddaughter would usually wears gold jewelry but when she was found, a chain, bangles and other gold items were not recovered and handed over to the family. She said, only a ring from Melissa’s son was given to one of his uncles.
The News Desk understands that on the day the woman and her son were discovered dead, Melissa’s boyfriend, 37-year-old Shailendra Umrao was seen in the vicinity of the crime scene but he told reporters that after he was unable to get in touch with the woman after 05 hours on Wednesday, he went to work and at about 14 hours, he went to renew his insurance at Rose Hall Town for his motorcycle.
He said, while in the area, he decided to check up on Melissa and it was then that he saw the woman’s siblings and was informed that she had been killed. He recalled that prior to her death, on Tuesday when he visited the woman, she was observed crying and when he tried to question her as to what had happened, he was only told by the woman that she had a misunderstanding with her brother.
“When I go I see she and she was crying so me hug her up so and give her a kiss and ask her what she crying for and she said she and she brother get lil argument and me ask she what argument them get, me ask about four or five times.” Umrao added.
Meanwhile, the brothers have been maintaining that they had nothing to do with the death of their sister and nephew.
