DNA testing has confirmed that the decomposed body of a man that was found in a canal at Coldigen, East Coast Demerara (ECD) last year, is in fact that of former Enmore construction worker Reonol Williams.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum confirmed that the results from the samples taken from the decomposed body was that of Williams who was reported missing last year.
The man accused of causing Williams’ death, Daniel Melbourne, still remains on remand. He was charged last year with a number of traffic offenses including causing Williams’ death.
In May 2022, Williams’ family reported him missing to the police after he did not return home. However, police were made privy to information that Williams might have been involved in an accident and was taken to the hospital by the driver who struck him down.
However, Williams never arrived at the hospital, which sparked an investigation into the incident, after weeks had passed and the 50 year-old deceased remained missing without a trace.
Police later stumbled upon an interesting clue and located the driver of the vehicle. Eyewitness confirmed that the driver had picked up Williams in an unconscious state and promised to take him to a hospital.
The driver was then taken into custody where he was questioned about the incident. The driver reportedly provided details about the incident and was later released from custody. He was then rearrested days later and confessed to dumping Williams’ body. He then took ranks to where the body was offloaded.
The decomposed body of Williams was found in June 2022. An autopsy was conducted and the cause of death was established to be that of multiple injuries as a result of a motor vehicular accident. Sadly, due to the advanced state of decomposition of Williams’ body, DNA samples had to be taken to confirm his identity.
