The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

POLICE have detained a man for questioning in connection with a missing person’s investigation in Andros.

The 24-year-old Smith’s Lane resident was taken into custody on Saturday shortly after 9am when officers from the Firearms Tracing and Investigations Unit, acting on a tip, went to Cumberbatch Alley.

Immigration officer Sean Gardiner and his girlfriend, Tishka Braynen, were 
reported missing in Andros on November 28.

Last Saturday, as investigators combed the island in search of the couple, they discovered remains in the central part of the island.

The skeletal remains Assistant Commissioner Anthony Ferguson told The Tribune were those of an adult man, along with “items related to a female.”

However, ACP Ferguson explained that because of the state of decomposition, police were unable to positively identify the remains. He was also careful not to speculate on whether the remains were those of Gardiner and Braynen.

The bones, which were discovered in bushes in Central Andros, were found in close proximity to each other.

ACP Ferguson said the bodies had been in the bushes for a “couple of weeks”, but police were awaiting the results of DNA tests to determine the cause of death as well as identities.

“The preliminary investigations determine what appeared to be remains from an adult male and items related to a female. That’s what I can say at the moment, but, of course, we have to do DNA to determine who the persons are,” he said.

The remains were said to be in New Providence, but officials were unable to say how the persons died. However, once authorities receive the results of an examination by the pathologist – who was putting the bones back together – ACP Ferguson said police would update the public.

Gardiner’s government issued vehicle, The Tribune understands, was cleaned and left little evidence or leads to be found when authorities made the discovery a few weeks ago.

Police also found a bullet in the washing machine of Gardiner’s home, where Braynen’s car was parked.

Persons with information are asked to contact police at 919, 328-TIPS or 1-242-300-8476 in the Family Islands.