By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

THE badly decomposed body of a man found in Grand Bahama Friday morning is believed to be that of Rupert Rolle of South Bahamia.

Mr Rolle, who suffered from dementia and diabetes, had been missing since Saturday.

Esmarella Davis, Chief Superintendent of Police, said sometime around 10.15am Friday, police received a call about a foul odour in the area of Pinta Avenue and dispatched a team of officers to investigate.

While checking the area, she said the lifeless body of a dark male clad in a striped shirt and short pants was found.

Police were unable to officially confirm the victim’s identity.

Supt Davis said that an official identification would be released once an autopsy is conducted.

However, family and friends of Mr Rolle gathered at the scene upon learning the news, and his son, Elvis Rolle, told The Tribune that the body was that of his father. He said his father was inside the building, lying face down.

“This is not what I wanted to see, but at least we got closure and his body has been found…and we can move on from this,” he said.

Elvis Rolle said he never gave up looking for his father.

“We searched and searched this whole area and we went in there (the cul-de-sac) a couple of times, and this morning we got word from neighbours of a foul smell; we came out and we saw him. The body had started to decompose and he had probably been there a few days or so,” he said.

Harold Williams, a resident of South Bahamia, said a neighbour told him about the strong odour.

“It was around 9am in the morning when a neighbour came knocking on the door and said she was out walking around 7am and smelled something like a dead body; she thought it might have been a dog and we went to have a look around,” he said.

Mr Williams said they knew that Mr Rolle had been missing.

“We walked for a while up and down Pinta Avenue; we knew he was missing and that it was quite possible he could have been in the area so we kept searching. When I got in the area of the cul-de-sac we walked in front of an unfinished building and the scent was overwhelming,” he said.

Mr Williams said they contacted Mr Rolle’s son, who also joined in the search.

“We continued searching and first thing we discovered was his hat. As we walked further inside another section of the building, he was in there,” Mr Williams said.

They immediately contacted the police.

Mr Williams said it was a very sad discovery.

“I knew Mr Rolle for about 15 years, ever since I moved into the area; he was my neighbour and he was a very kind man and a loving person,” he recalled.

He said every summer Mr Rolle would pick mangoes from his tree and share them with his neighbours.

Mr Williams described him as a “God-fearing” man who attended church every Sunday morning. He was an elder at the Community Holiness Church in Eight Mile Rock.

He said Mr Rolle was very helpful. “Anytime you need something from him he was always willing to help and to know he passed away this way is very sad for us,” he said.

A number of concerned church members had also gathered at the scene, along with Mr. Rolle’s wife, who was surrounded by her work colleagues. His daughter, who is a doctor, was also at the scene along with other relatives.