…boy’s father expresses his family’s overwhelming sadness
The father of 19-year-old Joel Skeete has announced his son’s passing shortly after the police reported the discovery of a partially decomposed body found in the vicinity of Belle Vue West Bank Demerara (WBD).
“Thank you all for your caring concern and many prayers. It’s with a sad heart I announce the passing of Joel Skeete, my son. At the moment the family is overwhelmed and is unable to say more,” Clairmonte Skeete posted on his social media page just before 11:00 PM on Monday night.
Colonel Julius Skeete, the uncle of Joel, identified the body as the body found by the police earlier on Monday. Initially, it was reported that the body, which was found at around 13:45 on April 5, 2021, was a mixed-race male estimated to be in his forties. The state of decomposition made it difficult to establish the identity.
The body was also described as clad in a dark grey long pants and a burgundy jersey. Though the age and race as reported by the police were not a match for the previously missing teen, the clothing description was similar to what Joel was last seen in —a dark red T-shirt, dark grey long jeans, and red slippers.
The police questioned several persons around the area where the body was found but no useful information was received.
The body was therefore taken to the Ezekiel Funeral Home previously awaiting identification. A Post Mortem Examination is expected soon.
Skeete had been missing since the evening of Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Before Monday, he was last seen leaving the barbershop at the Harbour Bridge Mall around 7 PM.
He was a Computer Science major at the University of Guyana.
His father, Clairmonte Skeete; mother, Lorenza Griffith; uncle, Julius Skeete and other family members had taken to the media and social media requesting the public to assist with information on the previously missing teen. Many Guyanese shared his ‘missing poster’ and offered their prayers with the hope that the boy would return home safe.
Police investigations are ongoing.
