Canadian investigator to begin work on Adriana Younge’s case from Wednesday

A retired officer of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Leonard McCoshen, will officially begin working on the investigation into the death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge from Wednesday.

McCoshen arrived in Guyana on Monday night and is expected to lend his expertise to the high-profile investigation, which has drawn national and international attention. His involvement comes in response to repeated calls from the Younge family for international law enforcement to assist with the probe.

Attorney General Anil Nandlall confirmed the start of McCoshen’s work on Tuesday evening. He emphasized that McCoshen’s involvement fulfills a promise made by President Irfaan Ali to the Younge family amid mounting public pressure and speculation surrounding the case.

“The gentleman, Staff Sergeant of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Leonard McCoshen, is a very experienced and qualified suspicious death investigator,” Nandlall said.

“He has joined the team and will begin working on the investigation from tomorrow.”

Adriana Younge went missing on April 23 while at the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen. Her body was discovered in the hotel’s pool the following day, sparking national outcry and calls for an independent investigation.

So far, three internationally recognized pathologists have been involved in the initial autopsy:

Despite these efforts, the family has requested a second autopsy and is now seeking the involvement of Dr. Hubert Daisley, a Trinidadian forensic pathologist, as a fourth opinion. This request has raised concerns from Nandlall, who questioned the forensic value of further examinations.

“From what I’ve been advised by persons far more qualified than I am… the body, in its current state, would have been deprived of any forensic value given the time elapsed and previous procedures conducted,” Nandlall reasoned.

He also criticized individuals who have made public claims about the investigation without proper qualifications, cautioning against actions that could damage the morale of the Guyana Police Force.

The Younge family, who have postponed Adrianna’s funeral since April 24, say they are hoping for significant progress in the investigation before laying her to rest.