By RALPH BANWARIE Tuesday, March 19 2013

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BODY IN THE SAND: The arm of mother of two Yasmin Ramoutar is seen sticking out of the sand on Saturday at the Manzanilla beach....

THE MYSTERY of the woman found buried in the sand has been solved when two sisters yesterday went to the Forensic Science Centre, St James, and positively identified the body as being that of their mother Yasmin Ramoutar, 45, of Second Street, San Juan.

Ramoutar’s body was found buried in the sand at Manzanilla beach on Saturday by three fishermen. The daughters, aged 24 and 26, told police that their mother was a casual worker at a garment factory and lived alone.

Ramoutar was reported missing last week Wednesday when she left her home and boarded a red-band maxi taxi which was proceeding east along the Priority Bus Route (PBR). No one knows Ramoutar’s destination and who she was with before she died.

Police said that Ramoutar’s daughters pleaded not to have their names released to the media. They got wind of the incident by reading a story in the Sunday Newsday. Both the daughters and police are appealing to members of the public to assist investigators by way of providing information if they know of the circumstances surrounding Ramoutar’s death.

Police sources yesterday said that an autopsy which was done yesterday after the body was positively identified, proved inconclusive and tissue samples have been sent for further forensic tests in the hope that results of these tests could shed some light on the cause of death.

Ramoutar’s body was found buried in the sand by three fishermen who spotted her hand sticking out of the sand. The fishermen were attracted to the human hand sticking out of the sand by the continuous barking of three dogs who were seen biting at the hand.

Police officers immediately cordoned off the crime scene area while investigators carried out searches for possible clues. The body of Ramoutar was dug out by homicide officers which was found in the grave tilted on the side with Ramoutar’s face looking skyward.

She was clad in a blue and white long-sleeved jersey, blue underwear and blue jeans which was found pulled down at her heels. Police also found a gold chain with pendant on her neck and black sandals on her feet. Police could not say if there were any marks of violence as the body was swollen and decomposing. District Medical Officer, Dr Orlando Prince viewed the body and ordered its removal to Sangre Grande District Hospital mortuary.