Police in Georgetown are investigating the alleged murder of an 89-year-old pensioner, Patricia Bovell, who was found dead in the alleyway near her home at Lot 57 Russel Street, Charlestown. The incident reportedly occurred between March 19, 2023 and March 22, 2023 at Russell Street between Broad and Howes Streets.
According to police reports, the victim’s niece, Yolanda James, visited Bovell’s home on Sunday at around 21:05 pm but did not find her there. When she asked Yonnic Gilpin, a 27-year-old unemployed man of Russel Street, about her aunt’s whereabouts, he told her that he took her to the Georgetown Public Hospital as she was feeling unwell. Gilpin, Guyana Standard understands, is Bovell’s grandson.
When James could not locate her aunt at the hospital, she subsequently reported her missing at Ruimveldt Police Station. Following investigations, Gilpin was arrested. He claimed that he had taken his grandmother to the hospital on March 19, 2023, but police checks revealed that she was never there.
Further investigation revealed that neighbours had heard screams of “murder” coming from the deceased’s residence on the same day at around 04:00hrs hrs. Gilpin was questioned again, but he maintained his story. On March 22, 2023, police received a report of a stench in the alleyway near the victim’s home, and upon checking, they found the partially decomposed body of a naked female wrapped in a blue and white sheet.
The body was taken to Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, where it awaits a post-mortem examination. Several persons were questioned, and police are continuing their investigations, including questioning Yonick Gilpin.
