Update: Businessman planned to kill wife days before after she refused to sell property

By Royan Abrams

The brutal killing of popular East Canje businesswoman by her husband, who later took his own life, may have stemmed from the woman refusing to sell a property she owns at Pitt Street, New Amsterdam. A source close to the family said that the couple was bankrupt.

Dead is 42-year-old Rhonda Blair, who was stabbed several times about her body by her husband, 46-year-old Rudolph Blair, both of lot 91 Coburg Street, Cumberland Village, East Canje, Berbice. The man was found hours later dead in a clump of bushes behind the house, with two gunshot wounds –to the left ear and left side chest. His licensed .32 pistol with six live rounds and one spent shell were also found next to his body.

According to information reaching the News Room, Rhonda and her husband owned several business outlets under the name “Stretch D Dollar” but were forced to close down after they realized they were bankrupt.

News Room was reliably informed that on Sunday August 06, Rudolph in a fit of rage, visited the woman’s home where he discussed his financial situation with friends. He reportedly told the friends that he encouraged his wife to sell the property in Pitt Street, New Amsterdam but she had refused.

At the time, the man who was armed with his licensed firearm, reportedly disclosed to friends that he was ready to kill his wife and take his own life; however, the friends sought to dissuade him from such thoughts.

“We talk to him and mek he cool off and we give him his stuff and he left,” the source said.

According to the source, on Thursday afternoon, the man visited the home again and asked everyone who was there to leave. On Friday morning, Rhonda’s body was found in a pool of blood on the lower flat of the house after a friend filed a missing person’s report at the police station.