Stepfather vanishes with ‘abused' step-daughters

An East Bank Demerara man, who is accused of sexually abusing his three stepdaughters, has apparently gone into hiding with the children he allegedly molested.

The man had come under the scrutiny of police ranks after Kaieteur News highlighted the plight of the three girls.

However, police sources said that the suspect has since abandoned the family home and has taken the girls and their mother with him.

Kaieteur News has received reports that the alleged rapist is hiding out on a remote farm in the community. The victims are said to be with him.

According to a source, the suspect owns a paddle-boat and sometimes sneaks back to his home. However, police have been unable to capture him.

The Probation and Welfare Department of the Human Services Ministry is also investigating the reports.

According to residents, the man has been molesting the young girls for the past four years. The incidents reportedly occur in the presence of their mother who is said to be an alcoholic.

One female resident said that the girls confided in her some time ago that they are all forced to have sex with their stepfather, who would beat them savagely if they do not comply. Another woman claimed that the eldest is now pregnant.

The neighbours also claimed that the stepfather would threaten them when they attempted to enquire about the allegations.

In addition, they alleged that the children are often seen buying alcohol and did not attend school.

In an interview with Kaieteur News, the stepfather had denied the allegations and alleged that the neighbours were being spiteful because he had stopped the girls from doing odd jobs for them.

The girls and their mother, who had showed no physical signs of abuse, also denied the allegations made by the residents.

The mother also said that the eldest is involved with a man, and has since become impregnated by him and not by her stepfather.

Saturday 05-27-2006