Businessman detained as ex-wife goes missing

Unaccounted for: Zaila Sugrim

Ryan Sugrim, a businessman who operates a Gas Station on the West Coast Demerara has been arrested by the police as they seek to locate his missing ex-wife, 37 year old Zaila Sugrim who is feared dead. BIG Smith Crime Watch was told that the businessman was arrested by the police on Monday.

According to information, the woman who at the time of her disappearance has been separated from the man, was last seen leaving to join his vehicle. The two had several breakups after a fifteen year abuse relationship which produced five children.

One relative said what was strange is that before the woman delivered her first child for the man, he secretly filed divorce proceedings unknowing to her. It was only after she delivered that she became aware of this.

BIG Smith Crime Watch learnt that Zaila was forced to seek the court’s intervention in securing a restraining order from the man previously but she ended up back with him as he promised to change his abusive ways, however she left again after she saw signs that the abuse was returning. We were also told that the unstable ‘union’ also saw the children being taken into care.

It is now being said that on Saturday, Zaila went to spend time with one of the children who was celebrating a birthday and the arrangement between herself and the businessman was that he would pick her up after she was finish seeing the child.

While seeing the child, the woman reportedly received a telephone call which and she began preparing to leave the house. She told relatives that ‘Ryan’ was waiting for her at the Republic Bank and that he was not too ‘fussy’ to come at the house. The woman then left the house and walked up the road where it is believed she joined the car that was reportedly being driven by ‘Ryan’.

Since the woman left on Saturday to reportedly join the vehicle of the businessman, she has not been seen or heard from and her phone is reportedly turned off.

BIG Smith Crime Watch was told that it was only on Monday that some relative became aware of all these details and that the woman was missing. They Said that the family was to have a gathering on Sunday but when they called the woman phone it was off and they thought that was at the man’s house and which not to be disturb. But when the non-communication continued on Monday, they became concerned and check at the man house and calls to his phone proved that she was not in his company.

The police were called in and on Monday searches were conducted at a number of properties which are said to be owned by the businessman. However after the fact, the police became aware that the man had not taken them to another property which is also said to be owned by him. As such preparations are being made to have that facility searched today, Tuesday.

Asked if they believe the woman might have been killed or being held against her own will, the relative who spoke with BIG Smith Crime Watch said that she does not know for sure but recalled that there were times where the man reportedly threatened to kill the woman.