UPDATE: Surinamese woman died from gasoline ingestion – autopsy finds

A post-mortem examination conducted on the body of Surinamese woman Gaitrie Katrian, 25, of Boskamp Suriname, revealed that she died from the ingestion of gasoline.

The autopsy was conducted earlier on Wednesday.

Katrian’s lifeless body was found in the Starlight Hotel at 19 Section ‘F’, D’Edward Village, West Bank Berbice on Monday by hotel staff. Police said her death is suspected to have occurred between Sunday, July 14 and Monday, July 15.

The woman checked into the hotel on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at 11:00 hrs and was scheduled to check out on Monday, July 15, 2024, at 12:00 hrs. During her stay, she would periodically leave and return to the hotel, police said.

On Monday she was discovered by hotel staff unconscious in her room at approximately 17:10 hrs. She was found face down on the bed with a white tea cup near her head. She was partially clothed in a bra and tights.

Police said two bottles containing a red substance, suspected to be that of gasoline was found near the bed in the sink.

A cousin of the dead woman, Diana Singh, told the News Room that Katrian left Suriname over a week ago and was expected to come to Guyana and spend a few days at her uncle in Liverpool, Corentyne, Berbice. Singh disclosed that they had no communication with her when she arrived in the country and it wasn’t until Monday that the hotel called and informed them that her body was found in the hotel room unresponsive.

Singh disclosed that based on what they were told, Katrian was found dead with blood coming out from her nose. There were bloody sheets as well.

According to Singh, her cousin had an addiction to smelling gasoline. That addiction, she indicated, developed a few months ago.