In a significant development within Guyana’s justice system, a regional Community Relations Officer has been formally charged with the murder of a renowned local tour guide. Ken Faria, 49, of Culvert City in Central Rupununi, appeared before Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court on February 18, 2026, to face allegations concerning the death of Leon ‘Rasta’ Baird.
The court proceedings revealed that Baird, a 38-year-old resident of St. Ignatius Village, Rupununi, was allegedly murdered between January 23 and January 25, 2026, at Wichabai in South Central Rupununi. Following the formal reading of the murder charge, Faria was remanded to prison until March 31, 2026, without entering a plea.
According to official police reports, the investigation began when partially charred human remains were discovered inside a burned vehicle along the eastern bank of the Rupununi River near Wichabai Ranch on January 25. The remains were subsequently transported to Lethem Regional Hospital, where they were officially identified as Baird and pronounced dead.
A critical post-mortem examination conducted on January 27 by Government Pathologist Dr. Nehaul Singh determined the cause of death to be severe burns, with forensic evidence indicating the victim was alive at the time the fire started. This finding significantly influenced the direction of the investigation, ultimately leading to the murder charge against Faria.
The case has drawn considerable attention due to both the victim’s local prominence as a well-known tour guide and the defendant’s position as a Community Relations Officer—a role typically dedicated to fostering positive community relationships and resolving conflicts within the region.