The disappearance of Michael Banfus

Nov 17, 2019 Murder and Mystery, News

By Michael Jordan

He doesn’t have a shady past, has no enemies gunning for him, or lawmen hot on his trail. And that’s why relatives are certain that 26-year-old Michael Banfus would not have voluntarily dropped off the face of the earth, the way he did, almost two months ago.

Missing Forestry employee: Michael Banfus

What some are saying, though, is that Michael Banfus’ disappearance may be linked to a seemingly obsessive friend.
What we do know about Banfus is that he had been employed at the Forestry Commission as a woodworking technician for some five years.
One colleague described him as a “very quiet, friendly and reliable individual.”
We also know that he had lived at Lot 10 First Street, Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara. He had shared an apartment with another young man.
A friend said he last saw the Forestry Commission employee at his apartment on Saturday, September 21. He was allegedly in the company of a male Berbice resident, who often visited the apartment.
There are reports that Banfus, accompanied by the same individual from Berbice, then went to the Sophia Exhibition Site, where the 2019 Indigenous Heritage Month celebrations were being held.
The two men were reportedly later seen at a cricket club, located on Carifesta Avenue, Georgetown. Banfus has not been seen since.
A friend of the Forestry employee said that he attempted to contact Banfus via cell phone after Banfus failed to return to his apartment. He eventually received a text message that was sent from Banfus’ phone. The message indicated that Banfus was in Linden and was staying at a friend for two weeks.
But the individual who was receiving the texts said that he eventually suspected that the texts were being sent by someone who was pretending to be Banfus.
“Certain things that I asked, he (the person sending the messages) did not answer correctly,” the friend said.
According to the friend, he urged ‘Banfus’, via text message, to contact his family to reassure them that he was alright. ‘Banfus’ reportedly never responded.
After he failed to turn up, Forestry officials contacted the police.
Ranks and colleagues who checked the Cummings Lodge, East Coast apartment where Banfus resided found his belongings, including his passport, intact.
A few days later, relatives received the disturbing news that the Berbice resident, with whom Banfus was last seen, had hanged himself.
It is alleged that the man’s relatives say that they did not see Banfus in Berbice.
So what may have happened to Michael Banfus, and who may have had a reason for causing him harm?
Some are pointing fingers at two close associates.
There are reports that he had quarreled and even got into a physical confrontation with one of these individuals. The other is the middle-aged friend who later took his own life.
But where might Michael Banfus be?
“We don’t know what has happened to him,” a source who assisted in the search said.
“All we know is that he has disappeared. We were told that he was at a friend in Berbice, and we travelled there and found out that the friend had committed suicide, so that is where we are right now.”
The source is convinced that some individuals who were questioned are concealing information about Banfus’ fate.
The missing man’s cousin, Vianne Banfus, is also convinced that he would have contacted her and other relatives if nothing was amiss with him.
“He is from Region Eight, and he would always contact me anytime he is traveling there,” she said.
Banfus has now been missing for 56 days.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts can contact his cousin, Vianne Banfus, on telephone numbers +592-216-3347, and +592-659-7321. They can also contact Kaieteur News (+592-645-2447) or the nearest police station.

If you have any information about this or any other unusual case, please contact Kaieteur News by letter or telephone at our Lot 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown office. Our numbers are 22-58458, 22-58465, 22-58473 and 22-58482. You need not disclose your identity.
You can also contact Michael Jordan at his email address: kamarangnight@gmaii.com

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