Mark Bassant
Lead Editor, Investigative Desk
mark.bassant@guardian.co.tt
Homicide investigators believe they have made major headway into the missing person's case involving 34-year-old Analisa Gookool after spending the last two days searching a forested area.
Senior investigators confirmed to Guardian Media that on Friday they spent several hours in a forested area in Sangre Chiquito, on the outskirts of Sangre Grande, with the help of Ministry of Works employees and an excavator.
The police zoned in their search on a particularly large area and after debris, including brush and trees, were removed, they began digging a hole about eight feet in depth with the assistance of the excavator. But after hours of digging, they turned up empty-handed as the light faded.
Homicide investigators familiar with the case told Guardian Media that they were led to the area after picking up two male suspects in their 30s approximately nine days ago based on credible information they had received. One of the suspects who was close to Gookool finally broke on Thursday night and led police to the area the following day. The other suspect is the cousin of the first male suspect and is a medical worker.
Homicide investigators were able to put pieces of the puzzle together with the help of a parallel investigation that is being conducted by the Fraud Squad. Sources said that the investigation stems from a fraudulent transaction allegedly involving Gookool and the two other suspects. Senior investigators believe that Gookool's disappearance stemmed from the sharing of the spoils from the activity.
House at Ram Trace, Vega de Oropouche, where 34-year-old Analisa Gookool and her husband lived before her disappearance.
Ralph Banwarie
On Saturday, Homicide had to bring in a backhoe to help in clearing the area further as they continued their search for the missing woman. A senior officer said up to the afternoon period they had not found anything. The search which started at 8 am locked off at 5.30 pm. Sources said the machinery used to excavate was malfunctioning and they are expected to resume their search on Monday.
When Guardian Media visited Vega de Oropouche on Saturday, residents at Ram Trace said that a man and a woman moved into a house in the area recently. They said they became aware of the couple's names when the man started speaking to them. The residents alleged they were told that "people wanted to kill the man and his wife." They left the area as their lives were in danger. A resident was able to recognise the missing woman by the photo posted on social media.
Gookool, of Toco Road, Vega de Oropouche, was last seen on June 6 and according to a Trinidad and Tobago Police Service release, was reported missing on June 9 at the Caroni Police Station. The TTPS had sent out a media release about Gookool's disappearance on June 29.
The media release described Gookool as five feet two inches in height, of East Indian descent, brown complexion, slim build with black hair and brown eyes, with a tattoo on the right upper arm with the words Dave Jeremy Kaithlyn.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Gookool is asked to contact the Caroni Police Station at 662-4291, Crime Stoppers at 800-TIPS or contact the police at 555, 999, 911 or share information via the TTPS App.
–Withe reporting by Ralph Banwarie