The decomposed body of six-year-old Orlando Jaikarran was recovered from a canal along the Bath Sea Dam, West Coast Berbice, early Tuesday, after his father, who is in custody, helped investigators.

Region Five Regional Commander Senior Superintendent Lonsdale Whithrite told Ignite News the body was in an advanced state of decomposition, making it difficult to determine whether there were any visible marks.

He said the search began at about 9:45pm Monday and the body was found at about 1am Tuesday, on the northern side of the canal among debris, roughly a mile from where he spoke.

“Based on some information that came to light last evening, we conducted a search of the canal that runs next to the sea dam,” Whithrite said.
He said CCTV footage supplied by residents and information from the boy’s father helped advance the investigation.

Asked whether Orlando was alive when he was put in the canal, Whithrite said: “We’re still at the early stage of the investigation so I wouldn’t want to pronounce on that as yet.”

He declined to say whether the father had confessed, saying police did not want to go too far into those details. Investigators must complete their enquiries before the next legal step against the father, he said. Two other people held in the case have been released.

Orlando was reported missing on Wednesday, October 14, after his father and siblings found he was not at home. He lived at Bath with his father and two brothers, aged seven and 10. His parents had been separated for about two years, according to his paternal grandmother, 65-year-old Dhankumarie Gowkarran.

Police searched several locations at Bath, including surrounding backlands, on Friday, October 16. Residents and drone operators also joined the search but were later asked to stop over concerns that they could disturb evidence.

Whithrite thanked residents for their help.

“The public and the members of the community have been very supportive,” he said.