One year later the police have no answers on who killed my daughter

Dear Editor,

Sunday, the ninth day of December 2018 marked one year since I last saw my daughter, Rainella Benfield alive and well. She left home for work that Saturday morning between 8 and 8.15 happy and healthy as can be, we had not the slightest idea that she was not coming back.

On Monday the eleventh of December 2017, she was found brutally murdered in the Triumph Burial Ground with her face smashed in and to date the Guyana Police Force has failed to find her murderer/s. Five months after her death, after me being persistent in seeking updates regarding her murder, the Police decided to arrest my wife, my eldest daughter and I saying that I killed her and her mother and sister were covering for me.

We spent three days in the lock-ups. During my interrogation, they accused me of having a sexual relationship with my daughter and because she wanted to stop it, I killed her. Then some Venezuelans and I were friends and we killed her because of a deal that went sour and many, many other theories but the most foolish question of all I had to endure was asked by a Detective Assistant Superintendent and I quote “how long you know your daughter”. Mind you, just before that question I told him that Rainella lived with us from the time of her birth to the time of her death and still a man who is in charge of a murder investigation can asked an idiotic question like that. Then tell me with that kind of brain power how can I have confidence in the Police Force solving my daughter’s murder? The Police arrested us five months after Rainella’s death without one piece of direct or circumstantial evidence. This has caused me to be seen in the eyes of some people as a murderer and a very, very bad person in my community.

Yes, I have done things that I am not proud of, like many other people in life but murder and incest are certainly not among them and never will be and more so my own biological daughter. The hurt and embarrassment my family and I suffered as a result of the Police actions, can never be told since I cannot find words to describe my feelings and this adds to my anger.

I pray night and day for justice for her and I know that God answers prayers and the person or persons who are responsible for her brutal murder can rest assured that they would face the consequences of their deadly actions one way or another someday sooner than they expect.

Yours faithfully,

Rainsford Benfield