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Jul 11, 2016 News
He was still in primary school when a 19-year-old girl was murdered and dumped in Main Street.
But now, over three decades later, Wendell Blanhum, now arguably the Guyana Police Force’s most successful Crime Chief, will be spearheading a team that will try to find Reece’s killer.
It will be his greatest challenge. Reece’s killer has eluded five other Crime Chiefs before him.
But recent events may be in their favour.
Just a year into his appointment to this position, Blanhum aided particularly by members of the Major Crimes Unit, have ‘closed’ an amazingly high number of cases that appeared to have little hope of being solved.
They include the murder of 46-year-old businesswoman Sirmattie Ramnaress, also known as ‘Pavita,’ found dead in the garage of her 21st Avenue, Diamond Housing Scheme residence on Saturday, August 31, 2013. A former policeman and a civilian were charged in 2015 and this year.
There is also the December 21, 2014 murders Theresa Rozario, 15, her 12-year-old sister, Feresa Rozario, and 63-year-old Hilrod Thomas, who perished in a fire at a Robb Street building.
A woman who allegedly hired a hit-man to kill her father was also charged eight years after the crime was committed. Under Blanhum’s watch, detectives have also charged a 31-year-old barber for the September 21, 2012, murders of 41-year-old businesswoman Jennifer Persaud and her sons, Afridi Bacchus, aged six and 18-month-old Jadon Persaud, who were butchered in their Anna Catherina, East Coast Demerara home.
But Blanhum’s greatest triumph occurred last May, when his team of detectives located the skeletal remains of Babita Sarjou, who vanished without trace some six years ago.
His crowning moment would be bringing Monica Reece’s killers to justice.
Caption: Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum and ranks after locating Babita Sarjou’s body (Wendell Blanhum)
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