[UPDATED] Penal pensioner found dead in abandoned car

THE search for abducted Penal pensioner Winston Thomas, 69, ended in sorrow for his family when his body was found in his car around midday on November 21, along a merge road of the Solomon Hochoy Highway in Golconda.

Thomas was found in the back seat with his hands bound behind his back, with what police sources said appeared to be a stab wound to his head. His body was covered with clothes.

The white Nissan B15 was found off the Golconda merger on to the northbound lane of the highway, with a flat tyre.

Police said they received a report that Thomas was forcefully taken away from his Ali Avenue, Rock Road, Penal home around 2.15 am on November 21. He lived alone.

A neighbour later told police that Thomas was badly beaten before being forced into his car by three men, who earlier stole several items from his house including a television and gas cylinder. Police said these items were not in the car when they found Thomas.

After receiving news about his abduction from a neighbour, relatives said they got in touch with members of the Hunters Search and Rescue Team (HSRT) and since 5 am, searches were being made for Thomas and his car in areas including along Penal Rock Road, Morne Diablo, Seemungal Trace, Scott’s Road and Bunsee Trace.

HSRT head Vallence Rambharat told the Newsday that information posted by members of the public on the HSRT’s FB page eventually led to Thomas’s car being found on the merger road. The police were alerted.

Up to 1 pm, police were still processing the crime scene while relatives of the murdered man, including his daughter looked on. When approached for an interview, she tearfully declined saying she was in condition to speak with reporters.

After the scene was processed, Thomas’s body was removed from the car and placed in a hearse to be taken to the Forensic Science Centre in St James for an autopsy.

Police sources said no arrests have been made and investigations are continuing. The victim’s car was later towed from the scnee. Police said it would be dusted for fingerprints as part of the investigations.

This story was originally published with the title Penal pensioner found dead in abandoned car and has been updated to include additional details. See original post below.

THE search for abducted Penal pensioner Winston Thomas, 68, ended when his body was found in his car around midday on November 21, on the Solomon Hochoy Highway in Golconda.

Thomas was found in the back seat with his hands bound behind his back, what appeared to be a stab wound to his head, and was covered with clothes.
The car was found off the Golconda merger lane on to the northbound lane of the highway. It had a flat tyre.

Police said they received a report that Thomas was taken away from his Rock Road, Penal home around 2.15 am on November 21.

He was beaten before being forced into his car by a group of men who also stole several items from his house.

A report was made to the police. Relatives got in touch with members of the Hunters Search and Rescue Team (HSRT) and since 5 am, searches were being made for Thomas. HSRT head Vallence Rambharat told Newsday information posted by members of the public on the HSRT's FB page eventually led to Thomas's car being found.

Up to 1 pm, police were still processing the crime scene.

This is a developing story and there will be an update when new information comes to hand.