Renewed Public Appeal for Full Investigation into the Death of Althea “Stacy” Walton and Accountability for Police Handling

Dear Editor

We, the Bartica United Youth Development Group (BUYDG), write this letter on behalf of concerned citizens, grieving family members, and the countless Guyanese and others both home and abroad who are alarmed by the state of justice in this country. We call urgently for accountability and transparency in the deeply troubling death of Althea “Stacy” Walton, an successful entrepreneur and 22-year-old mother from Alexander Street, New Amsterdam, whose life ended under mysterious and suspicious circumstances on June 21, 2025.

Despite public concerns and possible credible signs of foul play, law enforcement continues to display what appears to be blatant negligence or worse, complicity. The handling of Stacy’s case mirrors other recent incidents where poor investigations, premature police statements, and questionable procedures have cast a long shadow over public confidence in our justice system.

We recall the heartbreaking case of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge, who was found dead in the pool of the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen on April 24, 2025. Initial police reports in that case, too, were swiftly issued without sufficient investigation, prompting widespread protest, arson, and national outrage. It took public pressure and the intervention of the President to bring about an independent autopsy and international oversight.

Let us not forget the previous protests in Linden over the killing of  26-year-old Ronaldo Peters there, where a flawed and hasty police statement against a video footage later released on social media again fueled public mistrust and unrest. These are not isolated events. They are symptomatic of a deeper rot.

In Stacy Walton’s case, we would like to know:

• Before being taken into police custody,Why was the vehicle (PAG 2279) allegedly moved from the scene and washed by a private citizen( the accused)instead of being secured for forensic analysis?

• Why was there allegedly no toxicology report, no full trauma analysis, and no second opinion post-mortem ordered before the body was released?

• Why has the person of interest, Mr. Alfred De Jonge, who has a criminal history of attempted murder (of whom he had shared a intemate relationship with) and reportedly admitted to drug trade, was treated more like a witness than a suspect?

• Why were no public statements on drug-related charges filed despite admissions of marijuana possession that night?

• Why no public statements on where Stacy’s phone is, and why hasn’t digital evidence (texts, calls, GPS) been examined?

We have since learned that Dougla who the accused has implemented with regards to the marijuana, allegedly mentally unwell and known to associate with the accused, was allegedly held for 72 hours and gave a conflicting statement. This statement was sent to the DPP for advice. Meanwhile, the accused remains out on bail for manslaughter, not murder, even as he shifts his version of events.

Based on reports, The family has kept Stacy’s body unburied, still pleading for justice. The community remains enraged, not only because of grief but because of the unanswered questions, the lack of a more detailed and credible investigation, and the pattern of behavior that Guyanese have seen too many times before.

OUR CONTINUE CALL TO ACTION:

We since again demand the following:

1. An independent criminal and forensic investigation into Stacy Walton’s death, led by a team external to the Berbice Police Division.

2. Immediate reclassification of the case as a homicide, pending further evidence.

3. Suspension and investigation of any police officer who failed to secure evidence or prematurely closed avenues of inquiry.

4. A second autopsy, Reference to visible marks on Stacy Walton’s body, which suggest possible trauma that may not have been acknowledged in the autopsy(since the examanation were more focused on accident drowning ;

A caution about the potential for a plot between the accused and Dougla, the man he implicated.

Reference to the Adrianna Younge Case and Ongoing Concerns in Stacy Walton’s Death:

We are also reminded of the tragic death of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge, who was found dead in the pool of the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen on April 24, 2025. That case caused national uproar, especially after initial police statements were issued with no transparency or full investigation. Due to widespread concern and protest, a second autopsy was ordered and conducted in Gwinnett County, Georgia, USA, by Dr. Carol Terry, a respected female Chief Medical Examiner.

Dr. Terry confirmed that:

The first autopsy conducted in Guyana was thorough, with no signs of trauma or physical injury.

The cause of death drowning was medically supported, but she emphasized that drowning is a diagnosis of exclusion, meaning all other causes must be ruled out through full investigation, not autopsy alone.

She urged that the broader context and timeline of Adrianna’s disappearance be seriously considered.

This sets a strong precedent for why independent, international forensic expertise must be used in suspicious cases, especially where public confidence is low.

In the case of Althea “Stacy” Walton, photographic evidence shown to our group and circulating on social media reveals what appear to be severe marks on her body marks that strongly suggest trauma or violence, which were not defined, acknowledged, or explained in the post-mortem conducted by local authorities. This omission raises serious concern and demands immediate forensic clarification.

We again call for a second autopsy on Stacy’s body, to be carried out by a credible international pathologist such as Dr. Carol Terry, the same expert who brought transparency to the Adrianna Younge investigation. The people of Guyana, and especially Stacy’s grieving family, deserve nothing less.

Additionally, we emphasize that the investigation into Stacy’s death must not ignore the serious possibility of a deliberate plot between the accused and the man he implicated, known as “Dougla.” Both men were allegedly together on the night in question, and based on statements and behavioral patterns, there is a credible concern that Dougla may have played a supporting or even participatory role in Stacy’s death.

This cannot be brushed aside.

If law enforcement fails to investigate these links thoroughly, they risk overlooking a coordinated act of violence. A murder investigation should not be based solely on a single narrative provided by the suspect himself, especially when he keeps changing his story, while also benefiting from bail on a reduced manslaughter charge, despite public outcry.

5. Appointment of a Special State Prosecutor, such as Attorney at law Dr. Dexter Todd, to oversee this case unden the DPP and ensure transparency and legal competence.

6. A full public statement from the Police Force and DPP detailing:

7. • Whether this investigation is active or closed;

   • Who is conducting it;

   • Whether internal misconduct is being investigated;

   • What role, if any, corruption or drug ties may have played;

   • What charges, if any, will be upgraded.

This case is no longer just about Stacy it’s about public trust, human dignity, and the soul of our nation. We urge President Ali, the Minister of Home Affairs, the DPP, and all high-ranking law enforcement to break the silence and speak truth to the people.

Do not let Stacy’s voice be drowned out. Do not repeat any possible failures of Tuschen and Linden. The time to act is now.

Respectfully,
Kellion Leps
General President (Ag.) & Secretary – Human Rights and Prison Reform Division
Bartica United Youth Development Group (BUYDG) and Sister of Stacy.