An intense search by police and relatives of an elderly La Romaine couple who had been missing since last Thursday, ended in relief yesterday when it was found that they were on vacation in England.
Visually-impaired Harold Howard, 82 and his wife Gloria, 70, were at a hotel in Manchester last night. They are expected to return to T&T tomorrow.
Harold’s son, Victor Howard, who lives in Philadelphia, USA, had told police yesterday that he was spending his vacation in an apartment on the ground level of his parents’ home.
He said was supposed to leave the country on Monday night but when he went upstairs to say goodbye, he found the doors locked and no one answered his calls. Howard said he last saw his parents on Friday, but a neighbour reported seeing the couple leaving home around 1 pm Saturday.
When San Fernando CID detectives, Insp Don Gajadhar and Cpl Nanan, went to the home they broke the locks and entered. Everything was intact and nothing appeared unusual.
The Homicide Bureau of Investigations, Region III and the Anti-Kidnapping Squad joined the search and checks were made at the back of the house, relatives’ homes and medical institutions with no success. But as news of the couple’s disappearance reached the media, a travel agent contacted the San Fernando CID saying they had booked the couple’s vacation.
When officers went to the agency, the agent showed documents proving the couple left on a Liat flight to Barbados en route to Gatwick Airport last Thursday. Police said the couple did not tell any of their relatives they were leaving the country, which caused concern when they could not be found. Gloria, who was born in Jamaica, has dual citizenship for T&T and England.