A Double Day Hotel in Guyana was set ablaze and demolished by outraged locals after the lifeless body of an 11-year-old girl was found floating face-down in the hotel’s pool. Within a day, her unexplained death had ignited rumors of kidnapping, an alleged police cover-up, and violent demonstrations. The investigation is still in progress.
Wednesday, April 23, was intended to be a memorable day for Adrianna Younge, an 11-year-old. Her grandmother, Carol Xavier, took her along with a few relatives to the hotel’s pool for some enjoyment, but the following 24 hours would become the family’s worst nightmare.
Her grandmother recalled that she last saw Adrianna at 1:10 p.m. on Wednesday, after handing over money for a wristband to swim in the pool. When she returned later that afternoon to collect Adrianna and her siblings, the girl was nowhere to be found.
The family promptly reported her disappearance to the Tuschen police and then sprang into action on the ground, conducting a wide-scale search for any clue of her whereabouts.
The heightening panic came on Thursday morning, April 24, when a group of concerned locals blocked the road in front of the hotel and began a blaze in protest of the police’s perceived inaction, according to local outlet Wic News.
Soon, unverified rumors circulated that she had been kidnapped. Officials claimed that security footage from the area showed the 11-year-old entering a vehicle with a possible abductor, but these assertions were later withdrawn.
Although the pool area had evidently been combed, Adrianna’s body was reportedly found floating in the water shortly after 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, though it remains unclear who located her.
Sources told local news outlets that her body bore bruising and injuries, including a badly bruised knee. Moments after the discovery, video captured the scene and was posted to Instagram. A warning to viewers: the footage contains graphic material.
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Danielle Brooks
I am a staff writer at New York Beacon, where I focus on culture, entrepreneurship, and the emerging voices redefining Black America. My work highlights innovators, artists, and founders whose stories often unfold beyond mainstream headlines but shape communities in meaningful ways. Through precise reporting and thoughtful storytelling, I aim to document progress, challenge narratives, and contribute to a stronger Black press tradition.