OTTO CARRINGTON
Two-year-old Kymani Francis died as a result of drowning, and his body bore no marks of violence. However, the time of death has not been determined.
Those are the major findings of the autopsy conducted on the toddler today, at the Forensic Sciences Centre in St James.
The autopsy also noted that water was found in Kymani's lungs and chest area. In addition, mud and soil from the river were found in the inner lining of his stomach.
Kymani was found on Tuesday 10 May 2022, after he went missing on Monday.
The toddler is said to have wandered away from his Techier Village, Point Fortin home. A neighbour who spotted him contacted the police and only then was his mother aware he was missing.
A major aerial, ground and water search and rescue operation was carried out for the toddler, with the entire nation praying for his safe return.
However, less than 24 hours later, the child's body was found in the Guapo river near his home. He was found face down in the water, clad only in the disposable diaper he was wearing at the time he wandered from his house, at 10:40 on Monday morning.
Since then, an outpatient of a psychiatric clinic has given police a verbal confession that he killed the two-year-old.
Acting Police Commissioner McDonald Jacob confirmed that the man was detained by police after he asked officers to lock him up for the “crime”.
Police say the man, who appeared to be in his thirties, is from Techier Village, Point Fortin, the same area where the young child lived.