Body of missing housewife identified.
By Anna-Lisa Paul
Trinidad & Tobago’s Newsday | Tuesday, February 7 2012

Relatives of missing Trincity housewife, Parbatee Thomas, yesterday positively identified her body at the Forensic Science Centre (FSC), St James, minutes before an autopsy was conducted.

Thomas, 63, of Montague Avenue, Third St West, Trincity, who had been reported missing on January 25, was identified through the t-shirt she had been wearing, and two gold anklets.

An autopsy yesterday revealed Thomas died as a result of asphyxia.

Thomas’ body was found on Friday afternoon in Macoya with a plastic bag over her head and a spring-curtain rod tied around her neck.

Thomas, a widow and pensioner reportedly lived alone, and was reported missing by her brother on January 25, after he went to her house to meet her and she failed to turn up.

Thomas’ brother later went to the Arouca Police Station and filed a missing person’s report after the family were unable to contact her via her cellphone.

At about 2.30 pm last Friday, officers at the Tunapuna Police Station received an anonymous call that the body of a woman could be found in a track off Macoya Extension Road.

The body remained unidentified up to Friday night.

However, officers were able to identify Thomas after relatives came forward and described the woman’s clothing and jewelry.

It was only yesterday at the FSC that relatives were allowed to view the decomposing corpse.

Two men, one of whom is said to be in 30s from the Macoya area — were detained by police over the weekend in connection with Thomas’ murder.

The murder toll now stands at 41 for the year so far.