Death of 11-year-old Adrianna: “No missteps; everything will be recorded, observed” – Pres Ali tells family

– autopsy likely on Monday as family selects US-based pathologist

– Reg 3 Commander sent on admin leave; 3 cops under close arrest

President Dr Irfaan Ali has reassured family members of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge that the Guyana Government is ready to offer whatever support they want, and will honour all requests being made regarding the young girl’s autopsy that is expected to be done Monday.

On Saturday morning, the Head of State met with members of the child’s family, including her grieving mother, outside their Hyde Park, Parika, East Bank Essequibo (EBE) home, to update them on developments in the ongoing investigation into her death.
Adrianna’s body was found under suspicious circumstances, in a pool at the Double Day Hotel at Tuschen, EBE on Thursday morning. There were several marks of violence apparent on her body.
The girl’s family has since requested an independent pathologist to conduct the post mortem examination (PME) on her body.
In a statement on Saturday, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) indicated that the family’s chosen pathologist is expected to arrive in Guyana today to perform the PME along with the GPF’s independent pathologist.
Based on reports, the independent pathologist selected by the family has been identified as the Chief Medical Examiner of the State of Delaware, Dr Gary Collins, MD. The autopsy is likely to be conducted on Monday.
President Ali assured that the entire process will be recorded for added transparency.

“We want full transparency,” the Head of State said shortly after speaking with the girl’s family outside their home.
“I’ve asked the police to make sure everything is videoed – no missteps; everything is videoed, everything is observed [and] as much witnesses the family wants in there [during the autopsy] that is medically permissible – all of that. And all of their requests, in terms of this post-mortem, [are] to be honoured as far as possible,” Ali committed.
Since the discovery of Adrianna’s body in the hotel’s pool, protest actions have intensified across Region Three over the past few days. Just hours after the discovery on Thursday, sections of the hotel and the hotel owners’ home were destroyed by fire.
Public outrage heightened on Friday and saw several road blocks in the region, including the burning of tyres on the roadway. The protest had moved to outside the Leonora Police Station, as persons demand justice for the 11-year-old girl.
The Head of State had later cautioned against blocking the public roads, burning public infrastructure, and inconveniencing citizens, noting that such acts will not help Adrianna’s cause or those interested in the truth.

Distrust in the police
During Saturday’s interaction with the Head of State, the aunt of the young girl reiterated the family’s distrust of the Police Force, specifically those officers within the Regional Divisional #3, over their mishandling of the case from the inception when Adrianna disappeared on Wednesday afternoon.
The 11-year-old girl had gone to the hotel’s poolside along with her grandmother and other relatives at around 13:00h on Wednesday and went missing shortly after. According to the family, the police failed to properly search the hotel.
Adrianna’s body was found in the hotel’s pool Thursday morning, intensifying public outrage countrywide since the poolside had previously been searched and there was no sign of her.

“We don’t have any trust in the Police Force because of what they did to us… We need an independent investigation and this came as a result of the Guyana Police – those persons who were there; we can’t blame the entire police force. The action and the resources that were used to clear that road at Leonora [Friday] night could have been used…to get my niece out of that building alive,” the woman lamented alongside Adrianna’s distraught mother and grandmother.
President Ali reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to unearthing the truth behind what led to the young girl’s death; hence it agreed to the family’s request for an independent pathologist.He pointed out, however, that while he is supportive of the peaceful protest, these actions should not hinder the general public.
“I have no objections [to the protest] because we all want justice; we all want to get to the truth of this, persons can do so peacefully. But blocking the road for hours is something that affects other citizens… I’m totally in support of, and we will never ever not support peaceful protest.”
“All of us want the truth. That is the only thing I’m interested in; ensuring the truth leads to [justice and] whatever action has to be taken will be taken,” the Head of State reiterated.
While peaceful protest continued in Region Three on Saturday morning, the fiery unrest spread to Region Five late Saturday afternoon, as persons set tyres and other materials alight on the Belladrum Public Road on the West Coast of Berbice (WCB). However, the blaze was eventually put out by an unknown person, along with the police and firefighters, who arrived on the scene.
In just under 30 minutes burnt debris was cleared off of the roadway and traffic was flowing freely.

Commander sent on leave
Meanwhile, during his visit, President Ali also informed family members that Commander of Regional Division #3, Assistant Commissioner Khalid Mandall, has been sent on administrative leave to facilitate ongoing investigations into the young girl’s death.
He further revealed that three police officers are also currently under close arrest – updates that the family welcomed.
Earlier on Saturday, the GPF had reported that Commander Mandall was sent on admin leave to facilitate the ongoing investigation, which is being led by the Force’s Major Crimes Unit. This comes less than 24 hours after the police had reported on Friday night that the Commander was transferred to another division amidst calls for his removal.
The actions of several members of the regional police team that responded to the report of Adrianna’s disappearance are under question, with both President Ali and Vice President (VP) Dr Bharrat Jagdeo demanding answers.
This was after the police reported initially that there was footage of the hotel, showing that the 11-year-old girl had entered a motorcar, which drove off in an eastern direction heading towards Vreed-en-Hoop.
But the family was adamant that the girl was still inside the hotel since they reviewed footage from a neighbour’s security camera, which showed no signs that the girl left the establishment at any time. She was only seen entering the premises with her relatives.
Hours after Adrianna’s body was discovered, the police admitted to releasing “inaccurate” information.

Persons questioned
According to the GPF, a number of other police ranks in the division were also questioned, and investigators have thus far contacted and questioned the proprietor of the Hotel and all employees, who were present there on the day of the incident.
“The staff and the owner [of the hotel] in custody,” President Ali further told the relatives on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the police say that investigators are still interviewing other persons who can assist with the investigations.
The Force further noted that it is also awaiting the conduct of the PME on the 11-year-old girl’s body. It said the confirmation of the Adrianna’s cause of death is a critical aspect of the investigation.
An autopsy on the girl’s body was initially scheduled to be done on Friday by Barbadian pathologist, Dr Shubhakar Karra Paul, whom the Guyana Government brought in late Thursday afternoon.
However, during a meeting with Adrianna’s parents and other family members on Thursday night, President Ali agreed to their request for an independent pathologist, thus postponing the PME.
In fact, the family’s lawyer had raised several questions about the qualification of Dr Paul, who had previously assisted local forensic experts with the identification of the nearly two dozen persons who died in the May 2023 Mahdia Dormitory fire.
Chief Medical Officer at the Health Ministry on Saturday defended Dr Paul, stating that he is “highly qualified” and his participation will ensure added impartiality and public confidence in the integrity of the ongoing investigative process.
Nevertheless, Dr Paul is expected to join Dr Collins for Monday’s autopsy. There are reports too that a third forensic pathologist, Dr Glenn Rudner, from the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York will also arrive in Guyana on Sunday to join the team.