Elderly woman’s killer bullied own mom for money to buy drugs - relative

Elderly woman’s killer bullied own mom for money to buy drugs – relative

Dec 01, 2015 News

Michael Stephney, the man who allegedly strangled 73-year-old Suroogpattie Ramlakhan in her home last February, is a convicted drug addict who constantly bullied his mother for money.

Alleged killer, Michael Stephney

This is what residents and at least one relative said of the 48-year-old Reliance, Essequibo suspect, who police say has confessed to killing Ramlakhan, called ‘Auntie Carmen,’ during a robbery in her Richmond Hill, Essequibo Coast home on February 20, 2015.
Police have indicated that he will be charged with murder. However, Stephney is also scheduled to appear in court today on break and enter charges.
Despite describing him as a drug addict, some of the suspect’s neighbours at Reliance, Essequibo, yesterday expressed shock that he had been implicated in Ramlakhan’s murder.
One woman recalled seeing the alleged killer running around in his yard two Sundays ago, while apparently under the influence of drugs. The woman said that although she lived next to the man, he had never acted violently towards her.
And an aunt of the suspect said that her nephew became addicted to drugs some years ago after returning from Venezuela. She alleged that the man would harass his mother for money. But she said that the suspect’s mother, who has since passed away, always stood by him whenever he was implicated in any crime.
Kaieteur News understands that the suspect was convicted on numerous occasions for simple larceny and other offences.
Kaieteur News had reported that Stephney was arrested last Sunday, shortly after he had attacked a 63-year-old woman in her home at the Bush Lot, Essequibo Coast. He had reportedly gained entry to the victim’s home by removing several louvre panes from a window at the side of her house. He then began to choke the sleeping woman.

Suroogpattie Ramlakan, called Auntie Carmen

Residents, including the victim’s nephew, surrounded the house after hearing the woman’s screams, but by then, the intruder had fled.
But acting on information, police turned up at Stephney’s home and arrested him. Police said his feet were still smeared with mud when police held him.
Police officials said that under interrogation, the 48-year-old man admitted to attacking the Bush Lot resident and stealing $7,000 from her home. Under questioning, he reportedly also confessed to the February 20, 2015 killing of Suroogpattie Ramlakhan. Police also confirmed this in a statement yesterday.
“During investigations into two reports of burglary committed on homes at Bush Lot, Essequibo Coast, the police arrested a suspect at Reliance, Essequibo Coast, yesterday (Sunday November 29, 2015).
“The man was also a suspect in the murder of Suroogpattie Ramlakhan which had occurred at her home at Richmond Hill, Essequibo Coast, on February 20, 2015, but had been released after arrest and questioning.
“However, during intense questioning following his arrest yesterday, he confessed to both burglaries and the murder of Suroogpattie Ramlakhan.
“He is in police custody and charges will be made shortly.”
Ramlakhan’s body was found on the floor of her two-bedroom residence. Her night dress was pulled above her knees and her neck bore lacerations, and a post mortem revealed that she had sustained head injuries and was strangled. However, there was no sign of sexual assault.
Detectives believe that Ramlakan’s killer had dragged her off her bed after breaking into her home via her back door.