What a tragedy

The baby’s tearful grandfather reportedly told police he had nothing left to live for now that his first grandchild was dead.

He was consoled by officers and colleagues while officers and the District Medical Officer (DMO) viewed the baby’s body. Sources said that baby Jaden appeared to be merely sleeping in his car seat.

For 56-year-old Cudjoe, yesterday started off like any other typical day. He placed his grandson in the car-seat at the back of his Nissan Teana car and left their Aquat Village, Penal home. However, instead of taking the child to the home of a female relative in Penal, Cudjoe drove straight to work at Petrotrin in Penal.

He secured his car at 7 am and went to work, apparently forgetting that baby Jaden was in the back seat of the vehicle. On clocking in, Cudjoe was told that was promoted and was told to go to Petrotrin’s Santa Flora branch to collect his promotion letter. He did not go in his vehicle but instead went to Santa Flora in another vehicle.

At 4.30 pm — nine hours after he secured the car — Cudjoe went to his vehicle and almost collapsed when he saw baby Jaden lying motionless in the car-seat. His screams alerted other Petrotrin employees. A report was made to the nearby Penal Police Station.

A party of officers led by Insp Granger and including Sgt Ramsingh, Sgt Flaveny of the Southern Division Homicide Investigations Bureau, PC Thompson and others visited the scene. Up to press time last night, officers were still at the scene. Sources said that Cudjoe was inconsolable and repeatedly said that he could die now as there was nothing left to live for. Baby Jaden’s parents, police sources told Newsday, though clearly shocked at what had happened, were seen hugging Cudjoe.

“This is an unfortunate and immensely tragic situation. From all indications it seems that the poor man forgot that his grandson was in the car. He is severely traumatised and was being consoled by his relatives,” a senior police source told Newsday last night.

While saying that foul play is not suspected in baby Jaden’s death, an autopsy will be done today at the Forensic Science Centre. Sgt Ramsingh is continuing investigations.