Man tears off baby's wrist and sucks blood

The Tesano Police have a big case to answer. They would been required to explain why they released a 34-year-old suspect who had been described as a "vampire."

The suspect, Edward Antwi Ampomah Gyaten, is alleged to have become so thirsty for human blood that he grabbed the feeble, almost fragile left arm of his one-month old baby, tore off the wrist and sucked blood which flowed freely from the stump.

As if possessed, he sucked the child's blood for nearly 10 minutes before the shrill cries of the poor infant attracted the mother of the child, Madam Abena Adubi, 24. When the child's mother rushed to the bedroom to see what was happening, she met a horrifying spectacle. She saw her husband frantically sucking blood from the baby's torn arm, while the wrist laid lifeless on the floor.

Abena Abubi raised an alarm and sympathisers and neighbours rushed into her home to rescue the child from Gyaten's grip. The child, together with the torn wrist, were rushed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, but it was too late. Doctors said the torn wrist was dead and could, therefore, not be attached to the main arm. The mother and child are currently on admission at the accident ward of the hospital.

Gyaten who was over-powered was sent to the Tesano Plice Station where he was detained. By the following day, Saturday 20 April a large crowd had gathered at the Tesano Police Station to catch a glimpse of the "Vampire man", while others were poised to lynch him. The incident occurred on Friday 19 April this year at Awoshie, a suburb of Accra. The couple had lived happily until the baby was born about a month ago.

When "The Spectator" contacted the Tesano police, they confirmed the story but said the suspect could not be charged because he was behaving abnormally in the cells. The police said Gyaten's relatives told them that he was not normal so they released him to his relatives who sent him to the Pantang Hospital for psychiatric treatment.

When 'The Spectator' also visited the baby and his mother at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on Tuesday, both were doing well. Madam Adubi, 24, and mother of the baby said on that day she was surprised about her husband's strange behaviour because they have been living normal life without any slightest sign of a mental problem for the past two years.

She disclosed that, the husband is a graduate from the University and currently owns a spare parts shop at Abossey Okai in Accra. She said, "I suspect evil forces to be at work because my husband until the recent incident was a very normal person. I can't understand. Somebody might have cast a spell on him."

Madam Adubi dismissed a suggestion from people and some neighbours that, Gyaten's action was deliberate and an occultic rite to enable him to get more money and prosper in his business. "My husband is not all that rich, but he has enough to look after us," said Madam Adubi.

In an answer to a question whether there are other women in her husband's life, Madam Adubi said, "I don't think there is any woman in his life, I am the first and the only one." She said relatives of her husband had informed her at the hospital that, he was on admission at Pantang where he is undergoing treatment for suspected mental problem.

Madam Adubi said she was, however, saddened that the baby would grow only to learn that it was his own father who was responsible for his deformity. Madam Adubi disclosed that, she hails from Akim Anyinam in the Eastern Region while Gyaten comes form Kwahu Bepong, and that their marriage two years ago produced this first ill-fated son.

Asked why the child was not named eight days after his birth, Madam Adubi said it was due to the fact that the child was sick at that time and that preparations were far advanced to perform an outdooring and a naming ceremony when the bizarre incident took place.

When "The Spectator" however visited the Pantang Hospital, on Monday, Hospital authorities at the hospital went through all record, but could not find the name of Gyaten. This revelation that Gyaten was not on admission therefore heightened suspicion among some spare parts dealers at Abossey Okine claiming Gyaten drank his own son blood to enable him get more money. They suspected a "sika duro" ritual.

"The Spectator" was also puzzled about the complicity of the Tesano Police who were emphatic that, Gyaten was not normal and that, he was released to his family members who took him to the Pantang Hospital for treatment. The question is, where is Gyaten? Should the police have released him knowing well that he was violent? Why didn't the police send him to the Pantang Hospital themselves? The police must answer.