By Alexander Bruzual
November 29, 2013 – newsday.co.tt
THREE days of prayerful vigil ended in tears and anguish for a mother of three yesterday afternoon after she made the horrific discovery of the body of her eldest daughter which was stuffed at the bottom of a shipping barrel in the bedroom of their Maloney apartment home.
Screams of anguish and enraged shouts filled the air around Building Four when news spread that Keyana Cumberbatch’s body had been found.
Police sources last night said Keyana may have been killed last Monday — the day she went missing — and had been stuffed in the barrel for the past three days.
Keyana’s mother Simone Williams, 27, had been holding prayer vigils in the apartment ever since the child disappeared on Monday after reportedly being sent to the nearby apartment home of her (Keyana’s) grandmother by a male relative. Williams never knew, that while she was praying to God to deliver her child back home safe and alive, Keyana’s body was at the bottom of the barrel.
According to police reports, at about 3 pm yesterday, Keyana’s mother detected a foul scent coming from somewhere inside her Apartment 22 West home. She soon realised the scent was the strongest in the bedroom.
In the bedroom, at the side of the barrel, Williams noticed dried blood stains. The woman hesitantly opened the cover of the barrel and observed it was stuffed with clothes.
However, with the stench now getting stronger as she opened the barrel, Williams removed some of the clothing and spotted a tied, black plastic bag.
She recoiled in horror, police said, when she touched the bag and felt what appeared to be a head. Cautiously, Williams opened the bag. What she saw inside made her scream. The bag contained the body of Keyana.
Williams, police said, ran screaming from the apartment, and made her way to the nearby Maloney Police Post where through her sobs, she told police of her find. Officers at the police post as well as officers from the Northern Division Task Force including PCs Khan, Riley, Romany and Ramsubhag, were the first to respond.
These officers secured the scene and confirmed that the body of a child was in a barrel inside the apartment. The officers notified their superiors as well as officials from the Homicide Investigations Bureau.
A male relative, who was the last person to see Keyana alive on Monday, was immediately taken into custody. Officers including ACP Wayne Dick, Snr Supt David Abraham, Snr Supt John Daniel, ASP Alexander, Sgt Waldropt and Sgt Green among others, visited the scene. District Medial Officers Dr Indal Singh and Dr Maraj were also at the scene.
As the news spread, scores of neighbours gathered around the apartment complex, expressing their disgust and outrage at what had transpired.
“How could anybody do that to a child? An innocent child? Oh my God! What is this world coming to? This is madness,” exclaimed an enraged resident.
Shortly after, Williams was seen being escorted by a party of officers into a police vehicle and she was removed from the scene. Keyana’s father Brian Cumberbatch soon arrived and on being told that his daughter was indeed dead, by police officers, he started to weep.
Speaking briefly to reporters, a dazed Cumberbatch said, “They (the police) have to find the person who do this, put that person in jail and throw away the key. That was my child. My daughter. And now she is gone. Who is going to fill that space now? We need justice in this place. The man who did this has to pay!”
ACP Dick told Newsday officers from the Homicide Investigations Bureau were observing every protocol and leaving no stone unturned in the investigations.
Flanked by Snr Supts Abraham and Daniel, ACP Dick said, “At present, the mother (Simone Williams) is assisting and so is the biological father (Brian Cumberbatch)…he too is assisting. We are in fact on top of it and right now it is a matter of patience and due diligence, and we will know soon exactly what is going on. We have interviewed several persons thus far and we are observing all the proper protocols.”
“The matter is in a delicate stage, as the discovery means that the body would have been there all along, and that yes, it was properly concealed and there was potential for several things to have taken place.
At the very least, it means that several persons would have had access to the home and the room since the child went missing, including the child’s mother, her aunt and other family members who reside in the apartment. So we are being very cautious and meticulous at this point,” ACP Dick said.
Justice needs to be served ! They are lacking in trinidad you dont leave kids unattended. Its sick people in this world its someone thats close to her did it. We are living in the last days satan is walking on this earth. Its sad really sad.My prays goes out to the family ! That is the mind of a evil killer. He or she will have answer to God. The police needs to really investigate to get to the bottom of this. The community needs to support the family through this difficult time . Send all Newcast out get volunteers to help with the case put an reward out the justice system needs to do something asap . Its sad and as a mother it could of been my child.
KEYANA’S AGONY
By Janelle De Souza
November 30, 2013
THE LAST few minutes of six-year-old Keyana Cumberbatch’s life were ones filled with agony as her head was bashed in with such force that Forensic Pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov yesterday said the skull injuries were similar to those seen in a high-impact vehicular accident.
As Keyana lay bleeding after her head was bashed in and while her life was ebbing away, her killer committed one final act of savage indignity on the little girl. He raped her.
These were the findings of an autopsy done by pathologist Dr Alexandrov yesterday at the Forensic Science Centre in St James. Keyana’s mother Simone Williams, on being told what was done to her daughter during her final agony-filled moments of life, slumped into a faint and had to he held by two relatives outside the centre. This was the kind of pain no parent, let alone a mother, should ever go through.
Full Article : newsday.co.tt
My prayers go out to all the famalies who has to go through this.rest in peace kenya,u are in heaven looking down on us.you are an angel.not many will get to go there
The person that committed this crime is clearly mentally ill. Our culture must be more aware of this illness. It is treatable but not uncurable. People..get educated about it. Read, Read, Read. Observe, Observe, Observe.
Keyana’s stepfather to face murder charge
Instructions have been given to charge the stepfather of six-year-old Keyana Cumberbatch with murder. The instructions were given by Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard around 8.30 last night. Sources say the suspect may appear before an Arima magistrate today, once he is processed by police officers.