A 17-year-old boy, Nicholas Agyei, has been taken into custody by the Bohyen Police in Kumasi for allegedly murdering his 72-year-old grandmother, Joyce Owusu, at Ohwim, a suburb of Kumasi.
Agyei is suspected of using a sharp object possibly a cutlass to inflict multiple fatal injuries to the victim’s head. While the exact weapon is yet to be confirmed, police believe a sharp instrument was involved based on the nature of the wounds.
Eyewitnesses report that the teenager attempted to move the body, leaving bloodstains in different rooms of the house. He is also alleged to have locked himself in a room with the body in an apparent effort to clean up the scene.
The suspect’s mother revealed that her son has a history of mental illness and has been receiving treatment. She explained that Nicholas lives with her and his father in Kronum, while his grandmother resided at the family’s Ohwim home. According to her, he often visited the grandmother to ask for money.
“He has been sick for a while, and we’ve taken him to several places for treatment. Though he hasn’t fully recovered, he’s usually calm and has never been violent. We were at home when we got the call that Nicholas had killed my mother. It’s shocking,” she said through tears.
Some community members have suggested that the teenager’s mental health challenges may be worsened by marijuana use.
The family is devastated, and police investigations are currently ongoing.
