Edmonton man held in U.S. woman’s death
Omar Elkadry under investigation for murder of fellow student on island of Saba
EDMONTON — An awardwinning medical student from Edmonton has been arrested on the Dutch Caribbean island of Saba in the murder of an American medical student in April.
He has been identified by media in Saba as 27-year-old Omar J. Elkadry.
The victim has been identified as Kavya Guda, 24, from California.
Both were students at the Saba University School of Medicine on the island, a special municipality of the Netherlands in the Caribbean, southwest of St. Maarten.
The police agency investigating the case said Guda was found dead by a friend in her home April 15, in an area of the island called The Bottom. The cause of death has not been released.
Elkadry was arrested June 1. He is being held in custody on the nearby island of Bonaire.
A statement on behalf of police and the public prosecutor’s office said the investigation has yielded “enough incriminating evidence” to hold him.
“Further investigation is being done into the scenario that this suspect could be responsible,” police spokeswoman Lucia Beck said in an email to the Edmonton Journal.
She said other scenarios — including the possibility “that he was involved, but not the only one” are also being investigated.
“At some point, the prosecutors will have to decide whether the investigation is sufficient to charge him,” she wrote.
Elkadry previously attended the dental hygiene program at the University of Alberta, where he received awards recognizing his work and character.
In 2013, he received the College of Registered Dental Hygienists of Alberta student award of merit in recognition of “professionalism, leadership and team spirit.”
A statement released by Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Francois Lasalle said the Canadian government is “aware of the arrest of a Canadian citizen in Saba Island,” and is in contact with authorities and providing consular assistance.
Police and prosecutors in Saba have said the investigation has been given “the highest priority,” with additional detectives added to the investigation, a special phone line to deal with tips related to the case, and a senior public prosecutor from Rotterdam called in to assist.
Officials say FBI investigators are involved. An FBI spokeswoman declined to comment on the case.
Police in Saba are also investigating a series of threatening and sexually explicit emails sent to medical school students after the homicide.
Beck said the emails may be of interest in the homicide case, but are being investigated separately. No arrests have been made in relation to the emails.
“The prosecutors will have to decide whether the investigation is sufficient to charge him.
LUCIA BECK
SABA POLICE SPOKESWOMAN