US-based boyfriend detained

in headless woman probe

Police in Berbice have detained two men, as they continue their probe into Thursday's discovery of the headless body of a woman in the Enmore backdam.

The woman was identified as 30-year-old Shelly Hartman of Springlands Housing Scheme.

A police source told this newspaper that one of the men in custody is a United States-based Guyanese, from the village of Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, who is reported to be the boyfriend of the dead woman.

The woman's headless body was found near a cane-field aback of Enmore.

Her head was found some distance away, while both hands were severed at the wrist and both feet from the ankle down were missing.

Kaieteur News learnt that the woman had gone to visit the US based Guyanese at Golden Grove. However, he subsequently went alone to her mother's home to collect a suitcase he had left there.

According to a source, Hartman's mother asked the man where her daughter was.

The suspect reportedly told the woman that he and Hartland had a misunderstanding and she had left his home.

The source said that the woman became suspicious and informed the police that her daughter was missing.

This newspaper was also told that a Golden Grove resident, who is familiar with the couple, called the police and informed them that something might have happened to Hartman.

The police on the East Coast of Demerara then contacted their colleagues in Berbice with the information. This led to the arrest of the US-based Guyanese and another man.

So far, the police have not issued an official statement on the investigations.

This newspaper tried to contact the dead woman's relatives in Berbice, but was met with a strict code of silence.

The overseas based Guyanese is said to be a close relative of a former top homicide detective.

Both suspects are to be transported to the Criminal Investigations Department Headquarters in the city for further questioning.

Investigations are continuing.