While foul play has been ruled out in the death of two-year-old Kimani Francis, investigations surrounding the incident are still continuing.
The infant was found dead in the Guapo River a day after he wandered away from his Techier Village, Point Fortin home.
An autopsy at the Forensic Science Centre in Port of Spain listed his cause of death as drowning, but his parents paid for a second autopsy. They have not disclosed the results to the media.
While homicide officers were part of the initial investigation, sources said so far there is no evidence to suggest that foul play was involved in death.
Point Fortin police, however, have submitted a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions about negligence charges against Kimani’s relative and are still awaiting instructions on how to proceed.
Kimani wandered away from his home on May 9. A massive land, aerial and river search, ended the following day after his body was found in the Guapo river.
Two days later around 1.40 pm, a 41-year-old mentally challenged man from the community where Kimani lived confessed to throwing “the child in the river.”
Following investigations, however, he was released from police custody on May 26. Kimani was at home with his mother and other relatives when he walked out wearing only a diaper and barefoot.
His mother only realised that he was missing when a police officer came to the front door about a half an hour later.
The police were contacted by Zoi Anicka Quan Kep, a neighbour, after she saw the toddler on the road.
She said she tried to follow the child, but could not catch up to him, owing to a medical condition and being overweight.
She was eventually forced to move out of her home after receiving threats by villagers. Kimani’s funeral service was held on May 20. Point Fortin Police are investigating.
