Police silent on probe into murder of Rupununi tour guide, family considering second autopsy 

Frustration is mounting for the family of tour guide, Leon Baird as they say Police have not provided any recent information about the investigation into his gruesome death.

Baird’s brother, Nigel Andrew, told the News Room on Thursday that communication with investigators has stalled, leaving relatives in the dark.

“The Police didn’t tell me anything or me ain’t hear back from the Police so exactly me ain’t know what going on.

“I was getting communication with them…but I ain’t hearing back from them, they ain’t tell me back anything,” Andrew said.

According to Andrew, the family is simply seeking answers about the circumstances surrounding Baird’s death.

“I want know what’s the situation…I would like to know the facts and the real thing exactly what going on,” he told the News Room.

As they wait, the family is preparing for Baird’s burial but Andrew said they may have to postpone funeral arrangements as they consider conducting a second, independent autopsy. No final decision has yet been made on this as yet.

“We still got to do something to figure out what we could figure out. So it’s our decision and our timing, it will happen,” Andrew said.

Meanwhile, Police remain tight-lipped about the progress of the probe.

However, the News Room understands that several persons were flown to Georgetown on Wednesday for questioning. Among them are individual/s who were reportedly detained during the initial phase of the investigation.

Baird disappeared on the morning of Friday, January 23, after leaving a ranch to search for cattle. The following day, a worker discovered his partially burned remains inside a torched vehicle in the savannah.

Police later confirmed that Baird’s body was found in a burnt vehicle near Wichabai Ranch along the eastern bank of the Rupununi River. A post-mortem examination revealed that he died from burns and was alive before the fire started. DNA samples were also taken as part of the identification process.

During follow-up searches in the area, law enforcement officers discovered the remains of two cattle believed to have been shot, along with a knife and spent shotgun shells. Investigators suspect Baird may have encountered individuals involved in cattle rustling shortly before his death.

Relatives have said Baird had previously been threatened by men he met while working in the savannah near Wichabai Ranch, where he was employed. According to family members, those encounters were linked to cattle theft- a longstanding problem affecting communities in the region.