Buxton murder/suicide
Baby in care of grandparents
By Shawnel Cudjoe
Guyana Chronicle
May 30, 2004
`What I noticed, is when you call the mother’s name, he looking as though he is in shock and start throwing himself down, so we try to avoid mentioning her in his presence’. – Mr. James Joseph, Enkofi’s grandfather.
AFTER spending four days in the Pediatric ward of the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC), being treated for dehydration, the child whose parents died in an apparent murder/suicide was reunited with his family on Monday last, but relatives are of the opinion that he needs counselling for the trauma he has suffered.
Just 15 months old, Enkofi Simon is now in the care of his grandparents James and Joy Joseph.
The partly decomposed bodies of Enkofi’s parents, Luana Cromwell and William Simon, were taken out of a bedroom in their Lot 8 Middle Walk, Buxton, East Coast Demerara, on May 21. Enkofi was found locked in the other room.
Electric wires were found around Cromwell’s neck and a wire running from a fuse box was attached to her body in the water soaked room.
The discovery was made after Cromwell’s uncle and a friend broke open the door of the cottage after neighbours began complaining about the stench emanating from the house.
Speaking to the Chronicle yesterday, Enkofi’s grandfather, James Joseph said that Enkofi is happy and moving around, but tends to get tantrums whenever his mother’s name is mentioned.
“What I noticed, is when you call the mother’s name, he looking as though he is in shock and start throwing himself down, so we try to avoid mentioning her in his presence,” he said.
Because of the trauma he suffered from being locked in the bedroom for about three days without food and water, his grandfather told this newspaper that a pastor would be contacted to pray for him, since he would need that kind of counselling.
Chief Welfare Officer Ms. Ann Greene told the Chronicle that they are observing the child although there is no need for concern, since he is in the care of his grandparents.
Asked about therapy for the trauma which he suffered, Greene noted that Enkofi is a very young child and at this time, he needs what the doctors are doing.
“Right now, it is the doctors to decide whether or not he is traumatised and he will make whatever prescription”, she noted.
A post mortem performed on the bodies of the two young people on May 24 revealed that they were electrocuted and died from cardiac arrest.
The examination also revealed that Cromwell sustained a blunt trauma to the skull which indicated that she was struck with an object before she was electrocuted.
Luana Cromwell was laid to rest at the Buxton Cemetery, while her reputed husband William Simon was buried at Le Repentir cemetery in Georgetown.
Both burials took place on Monday last.