[UPDATED] ‘Bodies in boat’ mystery

SOUTHERN Division police and Coast Guard officials have not found evidence to support a man’s report that there were two bodies near a boat at Canari Bay in Moruga.

But residents of La Retreat and Gran Chemin believe the high tides washed away the bodies which, they said, were burnt beyond recognition.

The only evidence police have is the remains of a partially burnt boat.

Up to late Tuesday evening, neither police nor Coast Guard officials found any bodies.

The man, a gardener who lives in the forested area, reported he discovered them on Monday.

He was near his camp and saw the boat. Not expecting visitors, he went out to see who it was.

On Tuesday, Newsday spoke to several fishermen. They said other fishermen at sea on Sunday saw flames and became concerned that the gardener’s camp was burnt down. They went, met the gardener and found the camp intact.

A villager said, "To reach that area, you have to go by boat. Yesterday (Monday) he came and told us he was going to make the report. He said he did not hear anything. We believing these men were killed on Sunday when the fishermen saw the smoke."

The tide was high, and when police and coast guard went searching they found nothing.

"The waves washed away the bodies. That is the only logical explanation. People went up to see but when they reached it was gone."

Several fishermen echoed similar sentiments.

Another added: "What is even more strange is that people saw a strange man on Saturday night with wet clothes. He said he was from Caranege and was running for his life. He bought clothes and left. We don’t know who he was and what he was running from."

Investigations continue.

This story was originally published with the title "Cops on report of bodies on boat: 'It's unconfirmed'" and has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

A story has been circulating on social media that two bodies were spotted on a boat at sea off Moruga.

But up to late Tuesday morning, neither police nor Coast Guard officials could confirm this.

Reports about he bodies have been circulating in Gran Chemin and other Moruga communities since Monday.

On Monday night, police, the Coast Guard and villagers searched for the boat but found nothing.

This is a developing story.