DNA testing confirms remains of Police Constable Quincy Lewis

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Wednesday said that DNA testing has confirmed that the skeletal remains found in a shallow grave along the Linden/Soesdyke Highway almost three months ago are those of missing Police Constable, Quincy Lewis.

On April 19, a team of forensic investigators from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) headquarters was dispatched to an abandoned sandpit at Madewini on the Linden Soesdyke Highway where the remains were found.

However, due to the state of decomposition, the ranks were unable to determine whether it was indeed Lewis. As such, samples were taken and sent overseas for DNA testing.

The results, Police said recently returned, positively identifying the remains to be those of Lewis.

“On completion of the testing process, the results confirmed the remains to be those of Constable Quincy Lewis,” Police Headquarters said on Wednesday.

After hours of searching, Lewis’ skeletal remains were discovered on April 19 at Madewini Sandpit area, on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway. A warhead was also recovered, confirming reports that he was shot to death.

The Cold Case Unit and ranks of the Major Crimes Unit made a breakthrough in the investigation following the arrest of two men, Shafeek Vernon called “Profit”, 25 of Lot 1 Ogle, East Coast Demerara and Jamel Van Lewis, 35 of Lot 29 Durban Street, Georgetown.

While in custody, Vernon and Lewis had told detectives that the Police Constable was shot by 56-year-old Thakurdial Samaroo, the husband of Naqeeba Zahid Zafarali, a woman with whom Lewis was having an affair with.

Police later issued wanted bulletins for Samaroo and Zafarali. They are suspected to be in the United States, resulting in the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) later issuing re notices for them.

Sources told the News Room that Lewis was bound and gagged by his killer/s before he was buried in a shallow grave and six plastic straps were found on the body. It also appeared as though his head was placed in a plastic bag.

Police had disclosed that they are pursuing a known character who allegedly took possession of the car he was driving after he was shot and killed.

The car, PTT 7541, belonged to a friend of Lewis and his family only knew he was missing four days after when the friend showed up to collect the car.

Lewis was attached to the Agricola Police Station on the East Bank of Demerara and left his home on June 19, 2020, for work but he never showed up.