One year later… Adriana Younge’s death still under probe

Mar 30, 2026 News

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(Kaieteur News) – Nearly one year after the tragic and controversial death of 11-year-old Adriana Sueria Younge, investigations into the circumstances surrounding her passing remain ongoing, with key questions still unanswered, according to the family’s lawyer Dr. Dexter Todd.

Adriana, a resident of Hyde Park, Parika, died in April 2025 under circumstances that continue to trouble both her family and the wider public. The young girl was reported missing on April 23, 2025, during a family outing at the Double Day International Hotel and Bar in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo.

According to reports, Adriana was last seen at approximately 13:01 hrs on the day she disappeared. Her grandmother had reportedly observed her swimming in the hotel’s pool shortly before she went missing.

Despite immediate concern and searches, Adriana was not found until the following day—nearly 20 hours later—when her body was discovered in the same swimming pool. Reports indicated that her body was found in an upright position, raising serious concerns, particularly since the pool had reportedly been searched earlier.

A post-mortem examination conducted on April 28, 2025, by international pathologists determined that Adriana died as a result of drowning. However, the unusual circumstances surrounding the discovery of her body, combined with unanswered questions about the initial investigation, fuelled widespread public scepticism and outrage.

The case had since drawn both national and international attention, with many questioning the handling of the investigation by the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

In July 2025, the GPF had stated that its investigation was complete and that the case file had been submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). That file included a report prepared by retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer Leonard McCoshen, who had been brought in by the government to assist with the probe and spent several days in Guyana before presenting his findings.

However, in another update, Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum indicated that the investigation remains active. Speaking on the GPF’s podcast *Safeguarding Our Nation*, Blanhum disclosed that, in the interest of transparency, the police had shared Adriana Younge’s autopsy report with the family’s attorney—an action he noted was contrary to standard operating procedures.

Providing a further update on Friday, the family’s attorney, Dr. Dexter Todd, expressed frustration over the lack of progress in the case. Speaking on the programme Politics 101 with Dr. David Hinds, Todd stated that despite the length of time that has passed, the investigation is still incomplete.

“Up to this day, the police still are saying that the investigation is ongoing. Up to two weeks ago, when we checked they had not completed all their statements,” Todd said. “To this day, nothing has been said—not even a report from the Director of Public Prosecutions to indicate that this matter is nearing an end.”

Todd also addressed the issue of a second autopsy, which was conducted by an independent foreign pathologist after Adriana’s parents expressed dissatisfaction with the initial findings. According to him, that examination has also failed to provide definitive conclusions due to a lack of critical information.

“About the issue of the second autopsy, the second autopsy completed to the state in which doctor pathologist is saying, ‘I am not going to write a full report and come to the conclusion of drowning if I don’t have all these questions answered’,” Todd explained.

He revealed that the family had formally requested additional examinations and submitted several questions to both the commissioner of police and the crime chief. However, those queries remain unanswered.

“When we look at the police’s investigation, the police’s investigation unto now, could not cover or answer more than half of the questions,” Todd said. “For example, tile pattern, no one took, not even a tile out from that pool.”

He further noted that certain marks observed on Adriana’s body have not been adequately explained. “You have a situation where you have no type of conclusion in relation to certain marks seen on the body, because the pathologist is not able, is not able to relate that to certain things within the pool,” Dr Todd stated.

As the case nears the one-year mark, Adriana Younge’s family is still searching for answers, insisting that several key issues remain unresolved. With the investigation ongoing and important evidence yet to be properly addressed, questions continue to surround the circumstances of her death.

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• Adriana Younge, Double Day International Hotel, drown, GPF

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