Decomposed body identified as UG student

The badly decomposed body of a man discovered on Monday on the western bank of the Demerara River at Belle Vue, West Bank Demerara, has been identified as that of missing University of Guyana student, 19-year-old Joel Skeete.

The body was positively identified by his Uncle, Colonel Julius Skeete, Police Headquarters confirmed in a statement late Monday. According to police, the body, which was clad in a dark grey long pants and a burgundy jersey, was discovered lying downwards at about 13:45h. It is the same clothing Joel was last seen wearing.

But the police, in their initial statement, had said the body was of mixed race and the deceased was estimated to be in his 40’s.

The teenager went missing since March 31, 2021, and was last seen leaving a barber shop at the Harbour Bridge Mall, East Bank Demerara.

His father, Clairmont Skeete posted minutes ago on his Facebook page “Thank you for all your caring concerns 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.”

His body remains at the Ezekiel Funeral Home, awaiting an autopsy. Skeete was a Computer Science major at the University of Guyana.