Decomposed body of Wakenaam woman found inside house

Police are investigating the death of 78-year-old Sahodra Stephens, whose decomposed body was discovered in her Lot 15 Dumburg, Wakeanaam Island house on Thursday afternoon by the ranks of Sans Souci Police Station.

Police Headquarters in a statement revealed that the elderly woman was last seen alive by her 18-year-old neighbour at around 16:00h on February 11, 2021, and had indicated then that she was travelling to Georgetown the following day. Police are unable to determine whether she did travel to the city.

The pensioner lived alone in the two-storey, three-bedroom concrete and wooden house. Her 35-year-old granddaughter, Janelle Stewart, of Noitgedacht, Wakenaam Island, filed a report at the police station at around 18:35h on Thursday that she was unable to locate her.

Upon arrival at the house, the police found the door leading to the upper flat of the house locked from the inside. They broke the locks as the ranks were going up the stairs, a strong stench permeated the upper flat.

They found Stephens lying on the bed in the middle bedroom with the mosquito net down; her body was swollen and in a decomposed state. Police did not find any marks of violence.

“The body is presently lying at the said residence under guard. A post mortem is to be conducted as investigations continue,” the police report concluded.