The mysterious killing of two American missionaries

By Danielle Campbell

The murdered American couple

Even though the only clues to the killers’ identity are a pair of slippers and a tube of toothpaste, investigators are still unable to trace them.
More than seven years have passed and police are also trying to find out if the killers of American couple, Richard and Charlene Hicks were indeed hired.
On March 29, 2005, police in Lethem stumbled on the bodies of the American missionaries after responding to a report of fire at a San Jose Ranch in the Rupununi District.
Hicks, with both wrists severed, was in the burnt-out house while his wife’s body, with a broken jaw, was out in the yard, 12 metres away from the house.
Police initially believed that the murders were a botched robbery by persons from neighbouring Brazil.
However, after piecing together bits of evidence, they found nothing valuable missing and the couple was still wearing wedding bands and watches.
The Hicks’ had lived in Guyana for 11 years and had been translating the Bible into the Wapishiana language.
The New Testament translation in the Wapishiana language was within a few years of completion.
Although the most current language data appeared to have been lost in the fire, much of the backup translation materials were safe.
They had leased their spacious dwelling from a San Jose rancher, whose son later inherited it.
People in the area recalled seeing flashlights around the house on the night of the murder and two persons leaving.
A pastor, who works in the district, told police he saw fire coming from the house and tried to locate the couple, but failed.
Soon after, detectives explored the theory that a property dispute was possibly the motive.
On April 3, the owner of the San Jose ranch, where the couple lived, was taken into custody.
Based on information, police began looking for a Brazilian, who they suspect left his slippers behind, and a former caretaker of the ranch.

Man hunt
Detectives launched an intensive manhunt after learning that the suspects might have fled to Brazil.
They had been told that the suspects were spotted drinking the day before the couple was slain.
Other sources claimed to have seen the killers purchasing toothpaste, an item found at the scene.
After the murder, the men were again seen drinking with a large quantity of cash and raw gold in their possession.
The proprietor, who sold them, told police that the customers had blood on their clothing.
However, he remembered that when he inquired, the suspects quickly explained that they were porkknockers.
On April 7, a six-man team from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the U.S. was dispatched to Guyana and flew into the Rupununi.
Shortly after, an American pathologist also arrived in Guyana to perform the autopsies in an effort to help provide vital clues to the identity of the killers.
After an autopsy at Le Repentir Mortuary, the couple was buried at the St Ignatius Cemetery in the presence of relatives and friends.
The next day, police issued wanted bulletins for Guyanese, Peter Merare, a resident of Central Rupununi and Alecemar Cassiano Eugenio called “Pingo” of Commundale Dopuim, Brazil.
Careful investigations revealed that Eugenio was a fugitive from Brazil and had committed no less than five murders in the Portuguese territory.
Detectives also learnt that the slippers found at the scene belonged to a Rupununi woman with whom Eugenio worked.
The woman claimed she had been in Brazil at the time of the murder.
However, more than seven years later, the trail seemed to have gone cold and no further clues have been forthcoming.
According to a police source, they have no new leads in the investigation and no one claimed to have spotted the suspects.
So did the Brazilian and Guyanese really team up to kill the American couple and if so, why did they?
Police believe that only these two fugitives can answer pertinent questions that will complete the puzzle to the mystery of the murdered missionaries.