Chateaubelair man found dead at home

The decomposing body of a Chateaubelair man was found at his home yesterday morning after he had not been seen for days.

Rawle Douglas, who turned 50 last Friday, was discovered dead at around 7:17 a.m. by a nurse stationed at the Chateaubelair Health Centre, who had gone to the premises after neighbours reported that a putrid odour was emanating from the residence.

Everal Ballantyne, who lives opposite Douglas, said he had not seen the mentally ill man for about a week, but he did not worry, for at times, Douglas would go to Kingstown for up to two weeks, or sometimes sleep for over three days. He, however, said that he had been trying to get someone to check on the man over the weekend, but was unsuccessful.{{more}}

“I always maintain that he be institutionalized; there is no way a person like him should be allowed to live without supervision,” said Ballantyne, who is retired after having worked in the health system in England. Ballantyne said that Douglas would do odd jobs and run errands for him and other persons in the area.

The deceased was last seen in public last Thursday, but residents told SEARCHLIGHT that in the preceding weeks, he was seen walking erratically through the town, praying loudly, asking for forgiveness and for “Deloris to be brought back alive.”

According to residents, Douglas tended to behave like that when he was experiencing a nervous breakdown.

A police source told SEARCHLIGHT that on August 18, the deceased was seen by a team from the Mental Health Centre and given medication.

Popularly known as ‘Black and White’, Douglas attended the Petit Bordel Secondary School (PBSS) and was a popular student and good at athletics and soccer. Just before leaving school, he fell ill and over the years had to be admitted to the Mental Health Centre several times.

He was also employed from time to time with the Chateaubelair Town Board.

After Douglas was pronounced dead by Dr Francis Murray, who arrived at around 9 a.m., the body was transported to Kingstown, where a post mortem will be done.

Police, however, say there is no evidence of foul play at this time, so the matter is being treated as a sudden death.

Also present at the scene was principal of the PBSS Alden Douglas, who is the older brother of Rawle.(AC)