WALVIS BAY – Hopes of finding missing engineering student Matheus Sheehama (24) alive were shattered when his remains were discovered, washed ashore at Independence Beach on Tuesday afternoon.
Sheehama went missing on 27 July after attending a braai with his girlfriend, who was arrested on Monday in connection with the ongoing case.
Five suspects – Michael Awaseb (24), believed to be an ex-boyfriend of Sheehama’s girlfriend; Jimmy Gaeb (24); Marvin Wapota (20); Romano Paulus (20); and Enrico Gomachab (20) – are all in police custody after being denied bail.
Deputy Commissioner Erastus Iikuyu said Sheehama, together with his girlfriend, went to her residence for a braai. Sheehama was allegedly falsely accused of slapping his girlfriend’s brother, resulting in him being attacked by the suspects.
Family members who protested last week at the court told New Era that the girlfriend allegedly returned Sheehama’s shoes and his phone to
his mother, but denied having knowledge about his whereabouts.
As days went by and searches continued, family members were hoping to find Sheehama alive.
But their hopes were smashed.
“We were hoping that we would find him alive, or that he would walk through the door. But yesterday, our world was turned upside down. We will never see him smiling or laughing again,” said his cousin, Miriam Joel yesterday.
Joel said his mother and two minor siblings are struggling to come to terms with his death.
“It is very painful. He was my aunt’s only son… We were desperately searching for him day and night. Some of us didn’t even sleep; that’s how hard it was. We still cannot believe that he is not with us anymore,” she lamented.
The deceased was the eldest child of his mother, Lydia Amugenga.
He had two sisters, who also looked up to him. Joel further said Sheehama, who came from a humble home, was expected to complete his studies and help his mother take care of his two siblings.
“We had hoped that he
would become successful and take care of his mother, but his life was cut short in a brutal manner,” a sad Joel told
New Era.
She is now appealing to residents in Walvis Bay, especially in Kuisebmond, to stand together as a community and fight against crime as well as alcohol and drug abuse.
She said the community can no longer stand by and watch how innocent people are robbed and stabbed by criminals.
“Our mothers cannot even walk safely to work anymore because of these criminals. Let us talk to our children and even spank them, and stand together as a community. We cannot live in fear anymore. Let us speak up,” she urged.
Joel requested the police to conduct more patrols in the evening so that those coming from leisure walks late are also protected from criminals.
Charges
Meanwhile, Erongo police commissioner Nikolaus Kupembona yesterday told New Era that all the suspects arrested in the case will face additional charges. He said they are still conducting a post-mortem to determine the exact cause of death.