Businessman dies after set on fire by Venezuelan woman

Apr 02, 2025 News

Kaieteur News confirmed on Tuesday that 36-year-old Frederick Junior Stanford, a businessman from Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara (ECD), has died from the injuries he sustained after being set on fire by a Venezuelan woman on March 9, 2025.

Businessman dies after set on fire by Venezuelan woman

Dead: Businessman Frederick Junior Stanford

Commander of Regional Division #7, Superintendent Dion Moore, confirmed the death, stating that the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation informed him that Stanford passed away sometime between Monday evening and Tuesday morning. He had been receiving treatment at the hospital since the attack.

The suspect, Veronica Rondon Alfaro, a 30-year-old woman from San Felix/El Dorado, Venezuela, is accused of setting Stanford on fire at Mango Landing Cuyuni-Mazaruni, Region 7.

Investigations revealed that Stanford and Alfaro had been in an intimate relationship for the past year, living together at Mango Landing. According to reports, on the night of the attack, Alfaro had left Stanford’s business place and went to a nearby shop owned by another Venezuelan national. There, she and the shop owner consumed alcohol. At around 23:00 hrs, the woman returned to Stanford’s business, which was closed, and knocked on the door. The businessman reportedly told her, “Go back where you went.”

Subsequently, the businessman opened the door, as Alfaro allegedly rushed in with a one-liter Coca-Cola bottle containing gasoline, and threw it on him. A scuffle ensued between the two, and Alfaro then reportedly lit a lighter, setting both herself and Stanford on fire. Public-spirited citizens intervened, quickly transporting the victim and the suspect to the Eteringbang Police Station. They were then medevaced to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) via a Guyana Defence Force aircraft for medical treatment.

Remanded: Veronica Rondon Alfaro

Stanford remained hospitalised until his death, while Alfaro was initially charged with attempted murder. She appeared before Magistrate Rabindranaught Singh at the Kamarang Magistrate’s Court on March 13, 2025, where she was remanded to prison. Alfaro is scheduled to return to court on June 17, 2025. However, following Standford’s death, her charge will be upgraded to a more serious offense.

(Businessman dies after set on fire by Venezuelan woman)

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