Keith Chadee was bright and well-loved by the teachers and students of the Valsayn Teachers' College, where he taught. He was 45, unmarried and had no children. But he had a good relationship with his family. So, it came as a major shock to members of his family when Chadee's decomposed body was found in his house at Wilkinson Boulevard, Orchard Gardens, Chaguanas, on February 10, 2004. Chadee suffered a gruesome death, according to the results of a post-mortem performed on the body. Chadee, who was described as a strong person, died from multiple stab wounds to the chest.
Nothing was stolen from his house, so the police believe that someone close to Chadee–a friend or relative could have been responsible for his death. The last person who saw Chadee was Orrin Kerr, an attorney who practises in Port-of-Spain. Kerr was one of Chadee's neighbours in the upscale Orchard Gardens community. Nearly five years later, Chadee's family wants answers. Geraldine Ceesahai is a younger sister of the dead man. She lives in the United States and is fearful of returning to Trinidad because her brother's killers remain on the loose. During a telephone interview this week, Ceesahai pleaded with the police to reopen her brother's case and not let it die and remain unsolved like so many others.
THE KILLING
Two witnesses gave the police a description of a strange car which left Chadee's home on February 7, 2004. The car was black, the number was given, and the description of a man and a woman. According to the witnesses, no one really took notice of the black car when it arrived because Chadee was in the habit of entertaining friends at his home. The occupants of that car knew the layout of the premises. It seemed that the driver knew where to park the car. The two people did not stay very long at Chadee's house. No one heard any commotion at the house. It was a normal day, according to investigators. The two witnesses remembered the black car and its occupants....that's all.
Chadee was found three days after he was killed. Neighbours were attracted to a strong stench and called the police. Chadee was stabbed several times in the chest. His killers wanted him dead, the stabs were so vicious and there was blood everywhere. It was either the killers left in the hurry, or robbery was not on their agenda. During their preliminary investigations, police held one suspect, a close friend of the dead man. That suspect admitted being in the house on the morning when Chadee was killed. But he denied killing Chadee, although he had numerous cuts about the body. The suspect told police that a dog was responsible for the cuts. He refused to be fingerprinted to see if prints could at the crime scene matched his.
There were no DNA tests in those days, so nothing happened. In the end, the suspect was released without charge. According to Ceesahai, her brother was killed by someone he knew. "There were strange things happening, he had close friends, there were persons coming over to the house and asking him for money but he turned them down. Nothing was taken from the house, it was not a robbery, it was personal, nothing was taken," the US resident added. Ceesahai said the medical people tested to see if the killing was sexual, but it was not. "I went to the police with a hat which I found in the house and which did not belong to Keith," she said. "I also found a strand of hair, but the police could do nothing because they did not conduct DNA tests in those days. I don't know if they still have it, it is almost five years.
"I think two persons were involved...I want the police to open up this case and tell the family something," Ceesahai added. "As far as I am concerned, the case may be dead. I haven't got any further information. It is like the other cases, they are unsolved." Ceesahai said after her brother's death, there was a fight for the estate. Several relatives were left out in the rain as one person grabbed everything. Chadee had left behind his house, car, insurance policies, both T&T and US cash in the bank.