| Released after a nine-year stretch in a Surname jail, a Linden ex-convict is now the prime suspect in the murder of his 82-year-old father, Andrew Reid, who was battered to death in his Canvas City home on Saturday.Detectives are trying to locate Mark Reid, who they believe can provide them with details of his father’s death. Police said that Reid, who lives at Amelia’s Ward, has not been seen since his dad was slain.But Kaieteur News understands that he turned up briefly yesterday afternoon at a Potaro Road, Mackenzie house at which a relative of the murdered man has been staying.According to a source, the man enquired whether it was true that his father was dead.“He said ‘Is wha ah hearing, is wha going on?’ We were afraid because you could see the anger on his face,” a source said.“We said yes (his father is dead) and he say he has to fly out the country.” The suspect then left, the source said.Mark Reid was reportedly released less than a year ago from a Suriname prison.The body of his father, Andrew Reid, of Lot 543 Canvas City, Linden, was found on the floor of his bedroom with a gaping head wound at around noon on Saturday.Prime suspect, Mark ReidMurdered: Andrew ReidHis wedding ring was missing, as well as gold chains and two rings belonging to his wife.While the bedroom was ransacked, there was no sign of forced entry. Indications are that the pensioner could have done little to defend himself,Winnipeg Jets Gear, since he was infirm and his legs were badly swollen.Esther Reid, the murdered man’s reputed wife, told Kaieteur News that she last saw him alive at around 09.00 hrs, when she left for Church. She returned at around 12.45 hrs, and immediately sensed that something was amiss, since someone had loosened all the window blinds.“I would tie the curtains so that fresh air would come in, (but) all the curtains were down and the windows were closed.She then entered the bedroom and found her husband’s battered body. She recalled that his upper body was on the floor while his feet were on a bench.Mrs. Reid said that she last saw the prime suspect, who is her stepson, last Thursday. She alleged that on Saturday, the son had contacted Mr. Reid who was a Seventh Day Adventist, and enquired if he was going to church that day. Mr. Reid reportedly told his son that he would be at home, while his wife would be at churchMrs. Reid said that the suspect had also visited his father on Friday when she was out. Some relatives alleged that the suspect was in the habit of visiting his father and demanding money.While many canvas City residents were tight lipped when questioned about the murder, several others described it as shocking, especially as the victim could not even defend himself.The house in which Mr. Reid was slain“This thing is so shocking right now I can’t even ketch meself,” one woman said.“Yesterday (Saturday) I see Miss Esther going out to church early, then a little later I see she passing back down the street crying. So I asked why she was crying and she said she husband dead but I thought he die from natural causes, so you could imaging the shock when I go to the house and see he lying in a pool of blood.“He face de cover though, but I didnt bother to check to see it because I didn’t want to remember him like that, because he was such a nice person.”Many others described the victim as a very pleasant person, and said that he seldom moved around as he had to use a walker. |
