Body-beating self-styled spiritual healer, Patricia Alves, remained in police custody yesterday, while a postmortem was performed on the body which was unearthed from her Second Street, Alberttown `church' yard last Friday.

The body was reportedly positively identified by two of her sisters as Camille Seenauth, formerly of Plantation Try Best, Pomeroon River. She would have marked her thirty-second birthday in August. She was the last child in her family.

Her sisters -- one a teacher and the other a widow and pensioner -- are at present seeking assistance with the burial of their sister's body as they do not have the required funds to do so.

Meanwhile reports indicate that the 12-year-old, who was living with Alves, was moved from the Alberttown premises. The police, an aunt, stepfather and an officer from the Welfare Division of the Ministry of Education went to the Alberttown home, but the child had already been moved to another location. The police were reportedly seeking to find the `Mother' (known to the police) to locate the child with the aim of placing her in foster care.

Police Public Relations Officer, David Ramnarine, confirmed that a post mortem was performed on Seenauth's body yesterday, but said the details emanating from it were not yet available. Ramnarine said that the circumstances under which Seenauth died were not very clear and as a result other pathologists would have to verify the report before it was released.

The PRO also stated that the force was contemplating digging up other areas of Alves' yard in an effort to detect whether other persons might have been buried there in the past. Ramnarine posited that the operation would commence very soon and would form part of the investigations that are currently being carried out.

Meanwhile, Alves was said to be very calm and approachable at the East La Penitence Police Station and was being visited often by her relatives and close associates.

Reports indicate that Seenauth, who was married but was separated from her husband, had lived in Venezuela for a while with her husband and mother-in-law. On returning to Guyana, she went to live at Anna Regina and even worked at the Lake Mainstay Resort before moving to Montrose, East Coast Demerara where she lived with an aunt.

She was also reportedly involved in an accident with a mini-bus and stayed for a brief period in the Georgetown Public Hospital, before returning to her aunt's home. In November of last year, she allegedly told her aunt that she had found a live-in domestic job in the city and moved out. She was, however, in regular contact with her aunt and a brother who lived on the Essequibo Coast.

According to the source, Seenauth was always fascinated with black magic commonly known as `obeah' and sought out those whom she thought practiced obeah on the Essequibo Coast and even in the city. When her siblings told their mother about their suspicions about Seenauth she never believed them.

She had reportedly been in telephone contact with her brother two weeks ago, but had told him not to ring her again. The sisters were not sure whose telephone she used to make her telephone calls or whose number the brother called. The sisters also claimed that when she left Essequibo Seenauth had no skin lesions or leprosy as was reported in some sections of the media.

Apart from their concern about burying their sister, the sisters claimed that Seenauth had left their mother's transport for two properties and a quantity of jewellery, which she carried about in a manila envelope.

Another source said that Seenauth was invited to live with Alves when she became a senior member of Alves' church. Alves reportedly took care of her food and she, together with the 12-year-old did all of the menial work around the house. This involved scrubbing boards under the house and in the passageway as well as filling buckets of water among other chores.

One neighbour pointed out that Seenauth was not well known in the area and even though Alves was usually vociferous she maintained a very calm composure. Neighbours peering through their fence to catch a glimpse of Alves' services related that the church was not usually well attended and many members who were first seen going there had stopped.

The neighbor said that some nights Seenauth, the 12-year-old and Alves would sing and dance around the house. According to him, Seenauth would wear a white robe with a cord around her waist and wrap her head with white cloth. The neighbour Seenauth would sometimes leave the yard to do errands but would not stay long on the road.

A visit to Alves' home yesterday revealed doors tightly closed and gate secured. Neighbours sat in their verandas overlooking her residence. Neighbours had told this newspaper that Alves entrance into the neighbourhood had brought separation among the neighbours and she allegedly hurled abuses at them almost everyday.