Tour Guide murder suspects flown to G/town for questioning

February 11 2025

By Michael Jordan

In a stunning development today, a prominent cattle rancher and a Community Development Officer (CDO) were among suspects flown from Lethem to Georgetown in handcuffs, in connection with the January 23 murder of tour guide Leon ‘Rasta’ Baird.

A nephew of the rancher and a female relative of the CDO were also escorted by police to the city via an Air Services Limited plane for further questioning.

The CDO, seconded to a Ministry, who had been in custody during the early stages of the investigation, was re-arrested today. Police are said to have seized a number of firearms with a view of conducting ballistic tests.

The arrests come just a day after Regional Commander Mohamed Ally stated that investigators were “working assiduously” on the case, which has shocked the Region 9 community, long plagued by cattle rustling.

Baird, 38, who was employed at the Wichabai Ranch, is believed to have been slain on January 23 by rustlers who had made off with two of his employer’s cows.

His badly burnt remains were found three days later in a company vehicle, which had been torched.