It’s been almost one month since Zephaniah Harripaul’s badly decomposed body was found in Maracas and it is yet to be released to the family for burial.
Guardian Media understands that although the body was positively identified by Harripaul’s relatives on March 21, officials at the Forensic Science Centre are yet to collect samples for DNA testing.
When that step is completed, the body will then be released to the family, according to investigators.
On Tuesday, Harripaul’s brother, Stephen, said via a post on social media that they have not yet received the body and therefore cannot finalise funeral arrangements.
“Good day everyone. This is a little update regarding Zephaniah. Our family is still waiting for the release of the body before we can make official plans for the funeral. Once this is done, I will post the funeral arrangements. Thanks again to everyone who prayed and supported us during this time,” Stephen said.
Several weeks ago, Stephen had said Harripaul’s funeral will not be a private one.
Harripaul’s decomposing body was found 400 feet down a precipice in Maracas on March 17. It was discovered by workers contracted to clear T&TEC power lines of vegetative threats.
The body, police said, was clad in a red coverall.
Harripaul, a shift supervisor at Tucker Energy Services Limited in Chaguaramas, was reportedly abducted from his place of work on February 17.
According to the official police report, at about 6 pm on February 16, Harripaul arrived at his workplace at First Avenue, Chaguaramas. At about 9.30 pm, a car entered the compound and the driver— whose name and description is unknown—indicated that he was on route to collect something from someone.
The report stated that Harripaul was last seen at 2.05 am on February 17, when he told a co-worker that he was going to collect a flas light.
About ten minutes after, the car was seen exiting the compound in convoy with Harripaul’s vehicle – a silver-grey Tucson.
The report added that an unknown man was then seen exiting Harripaul’s vehicle and entering the suspect’s vehicle, which sped away from the compound.
No ransom demand was ever made.
Via a release on March 21, Harripaul’s employer said, “Tucker Energy Services is shocked and saddened by the untimely passing of our colleague, Zephaniah Harripaul.”
The company also hoped for swift justice.