2 Wycliffe Missionaries found murdered

Richie and wife Char Hicks were Wycliffe Translators in the district (country...might as well say jungle) of Guyana, near the Brazilian border. First word came thru Wycliff Translators prayer dept:

"U.S. missionaries suspected murdered in Rupununi"
POLICE yesterday said they are investigating the suspected murder of an American missionary couple in the central Rupununi. A police statement identified the couple as Richard and Charlene Hicks.

Police said the woman's battered body was found outside a burnt-out building
in which the charred remains of her husband were discovered.

Robbery did not appear to be the motive of the apparent double killing which has shocked the Lethem community where they were known. A source said the husband usually wore an expensive Seiko wristwatch which was found on his remains yesterday morning.

Police said they died at about 22:00 h Wednesday.

The wife was beaten on the head and body and her corpse was found several yards from the burnt-out small house which police said was destroyed by fire.

The two were working on a bilingual education project among the Wapishiana Amerindian tribe since they moved into the district around 1994-1995.

Police said detectives from Georgetown have been dispatched to the area to spearhead investigations.

The bodies were flown to Georgetown last night, an official said.

The two were continuing a field mission on the bilingual Wapishiana education project started some 30 years ago by another American, Francis Tracey, who has since returned to the U.S..

A Wapishiana who knew the couple, was returning home from the annual Christian Brethren Church conference at Lethem yesterday morning when he made the gruesome discovery. He was heading back to the South Savannahs where he lives and decided to check on the two who he sometimes worked with as a facilitator on their project.

A resident said the Americans were well-known at Lethem where they regularly picked up supplies and mail. He said they were allowed to live in the thatched house at San Jose, a cattle compound owned by the late Leonard Da'guiar.

A government official yesterday recalled that an American nun who sided with the landless in Brazil against powerful planters, was recently murdered and said investigators dispatched to the Rupununi would be checking all angles in the death of the couple.

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The brother of Richie Hicks adds:

"Their bodies have already been flown to Georgetown, the capitol of Guyana and they are waiting for experts from the US to arrive to do the autopsies. The US Government has sent experts down to investigate. Wycliffe (SIL) has also sent people to be involved.

At this time the plan is to bury them in Guyana, but this is not final yet.

We have made reservations to fly home on Wednesday. We, and all those around us here, feel that it is very important for us to go as a family. With this happening so soon after my father dying, we need to be with our mother. It will also give Barb and the kids a real chance to work through both Dad's death and this.

Many people have asked about sending money help us make the trip back. World Team will give tax deductible receipts for gifts. If you would like to send a gift in, make it out to World Team and mark it as a gift for Hicks travel expenses.

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