By By Staff Writer
Mt Barclay, Montserrado County — Police in Montserrado have launched an investigation into the mysterious murder of 41-year-old Augustine Nyaweh, a resident of the City View community, formerly known as Whiteman Hill, in Mount Barclay.
According to family members, Augustine’s lifeless body was discovered on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, by community residents — a month after his mysterious disappearance on September 5, 2025.
His decaying body was found partially buried in a swamp, just a short distance from his residence. Witnesses say parts of the corpse were visible above the muddy surface when discovered.
A next-door neighbor, Marthaline, recounted that on the morning before Augustine’s disappearance, she heard strange voices outside around 5:00 a.m.
She said an unidentified group of individuals were shouting “rough,” a local expression used when chasing a suspected criminal — prompting Augustine to leave his room and join the pursuit.
“He locked the door and placed the keys over his door while going to run behind the rough that morning,” she said.
The next morning, she heard rumors that a criminal had been mobbed to death but did not go to confirm the body’s identity.
“It might have been he went to help grab the criminal and someone did something to him,” she continued, expressing doubt that the body discovered was “Zeye,” the nickname community members used for Augustine.
Since the disappearance of her neighbor, Marthaline reportedly left the community, saying the area felt “lonely.” Family members of the deceased claim her departure — and her remarks about “some trusted friends in the area” — have raised further suspicions.
Community Chairman Kollie told investigators that he was first alerted by the owner of the property Augustine had been looking after but failed to immediately inform the authorities.
“I have never been in the know until the oldma told me,” he told police.
“What really shocked me is that all that time up to now, nobody told me — somebody from outside had to tell me,” he added, denying police claims that the case was delayed due to his inaction.
Chairman Kollie described the deceased as a peaceful and respected resident.
“This guy hasn’t been involved in any criminal act since I got to know him. Everybody loves him,” he said. “This situation marks the first time such an incident has occurred since I became chairman in 2022.”
Another resident, Marron Viah, said she heard Augustine’s voice that same morning, seemingly guiding others during the chase.
“The voice I heard was Zeye’s voice, saying that the group should pass the other side so the criminal would not run away in the cassava patch,” she told reporters. “They passed through the cassava patch and ran this way. I heard their feet sound, but I was not outside.”
Ironically, the swamp where the victim’s body was found lies directly behind Marron’s house, within the same compound.
One of the victim’s relatives, Lawrence Vaye, expressed deep sorrow and anger over what he believes was a deliberate killing.
“I believe it was a calculated plot to eliminate my brother out of hate,” he said.
He criticized both the community leadership and some neighbors for their alleged attempts to downplay the incident.
“The community chairman kept denying that they never killed anyone here, and the man in question — either he traveled or he doesn’t believe that that is the man. Let the man lying here,” he added.
Some eyewitnesses suspect Augustine was mistaken for the suspected criminal being chased that morning.
They believe he was beaten to death in a case of mob justice and later secretly buried in the swamp to conceal the crime.
Several residents also disclosed that this was not the first mysterious death in the community — contradicting the chairman’s claim that it was the first such incident under his leadership.
Police officers, working with a Abraham Ricks, Montserrado coroner examined the body after it was exhumed from the swamp. The authorities have since ordered a reburial and promised to continue the investigation until those responsible are brought to justice.
