Adriana Younge’s death remains an ‘active’ investigation — Crime Chief

Crime Chief and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Wendell Blanhum, has confirmed that the death of Adriana Younge remains an active investigation.

Blanhum said detectives have been advised to continue further inquiries into Younge’s death, after which the case file will be forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.

“The case of Adriana Younge is still listed as an active investigation. Detectives were advised to continue further investigations and, on completion, the case file will be forwarded to the DPP for her legal opinion,” Blanhum stated on Tuesday.

The Crime Chief made this disclosure during an appearance on the third episode of the Safeguarding the Nation programme, which was broadcast live on Facebook.

According to Blanhum, the former Commander of Region Three, Khalid Mandal — who was in charge of the region when the incident occurred — along with several of his ranks, remains on administrative leave.

Younge, 11, was reported missing and later found dead at the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo, on 24 April. She was last seen near the hotel pool on April 23.

Her body was discovered floating in the pool the following morning. Her death, under unclear circumstances, sparked intense public scrutiny and speculation, prompting the family to seek further examination.

On May 27, the Guyana Police Force stated that Younge’s death had been officially ruled a drowning with no signs of foul play, based on the final report submitted by three pathologists. However, the young girl’s remains were subsequently flown to New York for a second autopsy.

That second autopsy reaffirmed the initial post-mortem findings, concluding there was no evidence of trauma. Dr Carol Terry, Chief Medical Examiner of Gwinnett County, Georgia, described the original autopsy as “competently and thoroughly” conducted.