[UPDATED] Horror story in Penal

In a strange tale of survival, an eight-month-old baby and his four-year-old sister were found alive and unharmed amidst the decomposing bodies of their parents and uncle at a house in Penal on Thursday evening.

The children were found by their 21-year-old brother, Vishad Mohamed, who came to visit his family.

What he discovered inside the house at Clarke Road, Penal, were the already decomposing bodies of his parents Shelly-Ann Ragoonanan, 39, and Wazir Mohammed, 57, and his uncle Nazir Mohammed, 46.

All three were shot to death. The children were not harmed by the killers but they were rushed to the Siparia District Health Facility for treatment.

Although the children were left on their own for four days, the four-year-old reportedly took care of his baby sister by preparing bottle feed and cleaning her and changing her pampers for the past four days.

Snr Supt Wayne Mohammed told Newsday that around 3.30 pm yesterday, Vishad who lives elsewhere came to check on his family as he was unable to make contact with them since Sunday.

Mohammed (no relation to the victims) said Vishad met a locked gate when he arrived at the house.

He called out to his parents and getting no answer jumped over the gate and while walking around the house saw a broken door on the side.

Inside he discovered the bodies of the three adults and nearby were his younger siblings playing. There were dirty pampers on the ground and an uncovered tin of milk.

Vishad's screams echoed throughout the village alerting neighbours who rushed out of their homes. Neighbours called the police.

Mohammed said they found evidence that the three were shot to death but because of the advanced state of decomposition, it was difficult to say where they were shot and how many times.

Up to yesterday, police were at the scene questioning residents.

Mohammed warned members of the public to be vigilant at all times when they saw strange people in their area.

“Sometimes these criminal elements have a way of networking but I am not saying that is the case. But we have to always be vigilant.”

He said no motive for the killings had been determined as yet, but investigations continued.

One neighbour said she could not believe what happened.

“How could someone be so heartless? What is this place coming to? This is a horror story. And these children.”

Another neighbour said that there was a stench in the area for the last few days but she thought it might have been a dog that died in the bushes which surrounds the houses.

The couple were scrap iron owners. A close female relative, Wendy Seepersad, said the family was very private and had been operating their business for years at their home and were known to everyone throughout Penal and environs.

She said everyone knew them as the couple who dealt with scrap iron parts. Seepersad described the couple as private and hardworking.

“I am just still in shock. I just cannot believe someone would do something like this. To know what these children went through it really breaks my heart.”

A district medical officer viewed the bodies and ordered its removal to the Forensic Science Centre. Homicide Region III police are investigating.