DPP orders inquest into Adriana Younge’s death

Last Updated on Tuesday, 14 April 2026, 19:00 by Writer

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has ordered an inquest into the death of 11-year-old Adriana Younge whose body was found in a hotel pool at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo last year, police said on Tuesday.

Ms. Shalimar Hack advises tha the inquest would be conducted into the “cause of and circumstances connected” with the girl’s death between April 23-24, 2025 at Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) said it received the advice and was taking the necessary steps in keeping with the legal process.

The law enforcement agency said it recognises the importance of public confidence in matters of this nature and remains committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, accountability and integrity in the execution of its duties.

The girl’s body was found in the Double Day Hotel pool on April 24, 2025.

On May 26, 2025, the GPF had said that the child’s death was officially ruled a drowning, with no signs of foul play, according to the final postmortem report submitted by three internationally renowned pathologists.

Findings from preliminary forensic examination, according to the GPF, had found that:

1. There was no evidence of sexual assault (her external genitalia were examined and found unremarkable with her hymen intact).
2. Her soft tissues as well as skeletal structure were free of traumatic injury.
3. There was a residual cone of foam identified within her nostrils and oral cavity, which is often observed in cases of drowning (dispelling any contention that there was cotton wool in her nose).
4. The skin changes observed were from prolonged immersion with ‘washerwoman’ changes noted on bilateral hands and soles (consistent in cases of drowning).
5. The skin was found to be intact and free from antemortem injuries (meaning that she did not receive any injuries to her body prior to her death).
6. The sphenoid sinus was found to have approximately 1ml of liquid (this is the air space located in the brain consistent with drowning).
7. Liquid was also found in the lungs of the deceased, which is consistent with drowning.

Further, a comprehensive postmortem examination, including toxicology and DNA testing, was carried out with the following key findings:

• No signs of acute injury or trauma were present.
• Toxicology results showed ethanol levels consistent with postmortem decomposition.
• Sexual assault kit and DNA analysis for potential suspects were negative.
• Skin and airway changes were in line with prolonged submersion and drowning.
• There was no evidence of restraint, struggle, removal, and return of the body.

The first autopsy was conducted on May 3, 2025 by two of the forensic pathologists, Drs Glenn A. Rudner and Shubhakar Karra Paul, who were brought in by the Guyana government to conduct the autopsy.

They were joined by Trinidad and Tobago-born Chief Medical Examiner of the US State of Delaware, Dr Gary L. Collins who was arranged by the girl’s family and lawyer, Darren Wade.