[UPDATED] Moruga woman, 64, murdered in home invasion

The Chance family of St Mary's Village in Moruga, still grappling with the tragic death of a 29-year-old man in 2012, is now mourning the murder of his mother in a home invasion.

Durpatee Chance, 64, was found dead in her bedroom at the family's home at the Moruga Main Road, at 5 am on February 20.

The mother of four and grandmother of six is also believed to have been sexually assaulted.

Chance, who would have turned 65 next month, is believed to have been strangled.

A cord was found around her neck, her feet were tied and her underwear pulled down.

Her husband, 71, was beaten and tied up in a nearby room, but survived the ordeal. He was taken to the Princes Town District Health Facility.

The killers also stole a quantity of money, but the house was not ransacked.

At the house, relatives said the couple and an adult son live there. The son last saw them alive on the night of February 19, when he left to go to work.

He returned around 5 am on February 20 and made the gruesome discovery.

The police were immediately notified.

In 2012, the body of Chance's son Shurland Chance, 29, was found faceless near the Taylor Trace Cemetery at Rochard Douglas Road, Moruga.

Investigators believed the father of two had been struck with a vehicle and his body dragged along the road.

Relatives, however, believed he was shot in the face, and then the killers struck him to mask the crime.

No one was ever arrested for his death.

One of Chance's grandchildren said from what she was told, the killers took $1,000 from the survivor as well as one of her grandmother's purses.

"She never came to terms with his death, and no one has been held accountable. To our knowledge, she had no enemies. Residents said they did not see or hear anything strange from the house," she said.

The grieving relative added that Chance frequently visits relatives abroad and had returned to Trinidad on January 15.

Another said, "She was strict but fair. She liked to go places and was good with the neighbours. It is shocking, and everyone is saying that this does not make any sense.

"We hope to get justice for her death, but we have no faith."

Investigators are hoping to review CCTV footage to try to solve the case.

Supt Persad, Insp Teeluck, Cpl Julamsingh and other police from the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region Three, as well as the Southern Division police, visited the scene and gathered evidence.

The survivor in the home invasion is also the uncle of Nigel Chance, 44, who, together with his wife, 35-year-old Surita Aruna Deosaran, were gunned down in 2022 in their home in the same community.

Moruga/ Tableland MP Michelle Benjamin said she was deeply saddened and outraged by the latest tragedy.

"This heinous act is yet another devastating blow to our community, which has been living in fear due to the unchecked rise in violent crime," a media statement from the MP said on February 20.

Benjamin said she has repeatedly called on the National Security Minister to prioritise crime-fighting efforts in the constituency, where home invasions, robberies, and murders have become all too common.

The opposition MP accused the government of turning a blind eye to the suffering "of our people, offering empty promises while families are left grieving their loved ones.

"How many more innocent lives must be lost before the government takes real action? The people of Moruga/Tableland deserve to feel safe in their own homes, yet criminals operate without fear of consequence."

An autopsy is expected to be done at the Forensic Science Centre in St James.

The police do not have a motive.

The deadly home invasion is the latest tragedy to rock St Mary’s Village.

On August 21, 2024, at around 9.45 pm, mini mart owner Enrico “Rico” Guerra, 34, and his five-year-old daughter Anika Guerra were gunned down at the family's home at the corner of Moruga Main Road and Poui Road.

Another male villager, 30, was also shot but survived.

Anika, a past preschooler at Blooming Scholars Kindergarten in Princes Town, was expected to start primary school in September 2024.

Days later, residents joined with relatives in a candlelight vigil where they called for the government to declare a state of emergency and condemned the murders.

No one was arrested.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

The 64-year-old woman killed in a home invasion in Moruga is also believed to have been sexually assaulted.

Durpatee Chance's body was found in her bedroom at the family's home at Moruga Main Road in St Mary's Village around 5 am on February 20.

She is believed to have been strangled. A cord was found around her neck, her feet were tied and her underwear pulled down.

Her husband, 71, was beaten and tied up in a nearby room, but survived the ordeal. He was taken to the Princes Town District Health Facility.

The killers also stole a quantity of money.

Chance was last seen alive on the night of February 19.

Supt Persad, Insp Teeluck, Cpl Jilmansingh and other police from the Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region Three, as well as the Southern Division police, visited the scene and gathered evidence.

Moruga/ Tableland MP Michelle Benjamin said she was deeply saddened and outraged by the incident.

"This heinous act is yet another devastating blow to our community, which has been living in fear due to the unchecked rise in violent crime," a media statement from the MP said on February 20.

Benjamin said she has repeatedly called on the National Security Minister to prioritise crime-fighting efforts in the constituency, where home invasions, robberies, and murders have become all too common.

The opposition MP accused the government of turning a blind eye to the suffering "of our people, offering empty promises while families are left grieving their loved ones.

"How many more innocent lives must be lost before the government takes real action? The people of Moruga/Tableland deserve to feel safe in their own homes, yet criminals operate without fear of consequence."

This is a developing story.