A Post Mortem Examination (PME) conducted on the decomposed body of 19-year-old University of Guyana student, Joel Skeete, 19, revealed that he died from asphyxiation due to drowning.
A relative confirmed with the News Room that the examination was conducted earlier on Tuesday by State Pathologist, Dr Nehaul Singh, at the Ezekiel Funeral Home, Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.
Meanwhile, the University of Guyana (UG) has expressed its condolences over the loss of the Computer Science student, whose decomposed body was discovered on Monday at Belle Vue, West Bank Demerara.
“The University has received the sad news today that the hopeful search that was being carried out for 19-year-old Joel Skeete did not end with his safe return to his family and friends as we had hoped.
“Our Care Team is deployed and ready to give whatever support is needed to the family and friends including those who taught him who are deeply disturbed and saddened,” UG said in its statement.
Skeete disappeared on the evening of March 31, after leaving a barbershop at the Harbour Bridge Mall; he was due home later that evening but, according to his mother, Lorenza Griffith, he never did.
A missing person’s report was later filed and a search launched, but for days, investigators came up empty-handed until Monday when reports surfaced that a decomposed body was discovered stuck between rocks on the western bank of the Demerara River.
A Belle Vue resident informed the News Room that a passing fishing boat saw what appeared to be a body and alerted the police. Family members later identified that body as Skeete by the clothing he was last seen wearing – a dark grey long pants and a burgundy jersey.
The university outlined in its statement too that they are hopeful the authorities will be able to provide answers “so desperately sought by those who survive him.”
The late Computer Science major was described as “easy-going and a ball of joy and good vibes” by his fellow classmates.
Meanwhile, police investigations are still ongoing.
