AGONDA: The Canacona Police appear to be groping in the dark following the mysterious death of 46-year-old British national Emma Louise Leaning. The mystery surrounding her death remains unclear.
According to Canacona PI Chandrakant Gawas, Emma’s body was discovered in the church property on Tuesday evening. Despite the absence of external injuries, an injury to her leg has raised concerns.
According to witnesses, her clothes were found intact, but her slippers were neatly placed on the beach next to the wall, suggesting a potential climb.
What has surprised the locals is that Emma’s body went unnoticed until late evening on January 2, considering the fact that she was residing in the area for the past three touristic seasons. With the locals ruling out the possibility of foul play, the lack of clarity surrounding the events leading to her death has raised questions.
Canacona Police are facing hurdles in their attempts to establish a clear timeline and are struggling to recover any CCTV footage from the beach shacks, resorts, and the church.
Twenty-four hours have passed, but the crucial links remain elusive, further deepening the mystery.
The Canacona Police, who have registered the case as unnatural death. Emma’s body is currently preserved at a Government-run hospital and the police are awaiting the post-mortem report pending communication from the embassy and from Emma’s close relatives.
However, Emma's friends have ruled out foul play.
Agonda locals revealed that Emma had been visiting Goa for the past 13 years, staying temporarily at the same rented premises for the last three tourist seasons.
Her history in the region adds complexity to the case, with longstanding connections and a seemingly familiar environment. Efforts to gather more information from Fr Patrick Louis of Agonda Church proved futile, as he refused to comment, citing restrictions on speaking about the incident.
The absence of information from key figures in the church community adds an additional layer of mystery to the unfolding events. The locals highlight a sports event held at the school playground on January 1, 2024, just 15 metres from the site where Emma’s body was discovered.
This has raised questions as to how such an incident could go unnoticed that too in an open space. A thorough investigation by O Heraldo reveals that the landscape within the church property, including the coconut trees, should have triggered attention.
The bright coloured outfit worn by Emma contrasts sharply with the surroundings, making it seemingly impossible to overlook during the sports event or subsequent days.
Further complicating matters, the coconut trees within the premises were watered in the two days leading up to the discovery of the body. Fresh marks of the hose and moist soil around the trees suggest routine maintenance, raising doubts about why the woman’s presence went unnoticed.
As the Canacona Police, led by PI Chandrakant Gawas and assisted by Sub Inspector Rifa Barretto and DySP Sandesh Chodankar, grapple with these unanswered questions, the community is reminded of the 2017 rape and murder of Irish national Danielle McLaughlin at a secluded spot in Canacona. While that case saw arrests and chargesheets, it serves as a haunting backdrop to the current investigation.
In conclusion, the mysterious death of Emma Louise Leaning in Goa leaves a community in shock and raises more questions than answers. The Canacona Police faces a daunting task of untangling the web of circumstances surrounding her demise and providing closure to the grieving community.