HARPER, Maryland County — The lifeless body of Papa Abraham Stemmer, a fisherman who went missing last week following a canoe capsizing incident, has been discovered in Harper City, with the Independent Human Rights Commission in Maryland County reporting what it described as suspected missing body parts.
By Peter P. Toe, Jr., [email protected]
The body was discovered by fishermen on Monday morning, October 5, 2026 in the waters between Lake Shepherd and the Atlantic Ocean, according to eyewitnesses at the scene.
S. Boniface Nyema, Human Rights monitor with the Independent Human Rights Commission in Maryland County, said members of the Commission visited the scene after receiving information about the discovery and observed what he described as severe injuries to the body.
Nyema alleged that both ears, both eyes, the upper and lower lips, tongue and anus appeared to have been removed. He further said the hair appeared to have been scraped from the victim’s skull.
“We observed the two ears have been removed. His hair is scraped off from his skull. Both eyes are also removed. Both upper and lower lips are forcibly removed. His tongue is removed. His anus is removed,” Nyema said.
He also alleged that an oily substance, which he described as resembling fuel or waste oil, was found on parts of the body, while blood was reportedly coming from the ears.
Nyema said the Commission’s observations were made before police arrived to conduct an official examination of the body. “Even though police have not yet come to do investigation on the body, we the Human Rights Commission, we do not believe in police report. We believe in observing and seeing the facts,” he said.
He said the Commission was preparing to report its observations to the Maryland County Administration. The allegations by the Human Rights Commission have not been independently verified by police or medical authorities, and the cause and circumstances of Stemmer’s death remain unclear.
Stemmer was reported missing on September 29, 2026, following a canoe capsizing incident near Richard Sea-Port in Maryland County. A preliminary police report issued by the Maryland County Police Crime Services Department said Stemmer and another fisherman, identified as Bishop Toe, 20, had boarded a canoe from Nekambo to engage in fishing activities.
According to the police report, the sea became rough as the two approached the vicinity of Richard Sea-Port, with strong waves and currents causing the canoe to capsize.
The report said both men entered the water and began swimming. Bishop Toe reportedly told police that he attempted to locate Stemmer but could no longer see him. He eventually reached safety after being carried by the sea current toward the shoreline.
At the time of the police report, Stemmer’s whereabouts remained unknown, and police said the investigation was ongoing. Following the discovery of Stemmer’s body, Edwin B. Wadeh, head of the victim’s maternal family and Chief of Barriken Township, described the development as shocking.
Wadeh said the family had spent days searching for Stemmer and seeking assistance from medical practitioners, prayer centers and traditional healers. “After all we have been going through, going from country doctor to country doctor, going from prayer-to-prayer yard, a herbalist told us that the child was to be found alive in two days or three days’ time. But today we are seeing, we are hearing that our child is dead,” Wadeh said.
Wadeh also spoke about disagreements involving Stemmer’s maternal and paternal families over claims allegedly made by traditional healers during efforts to locate him.
According to Wadeh, Stemmer’s mother has repeatedly denied allegations made by a traditional healer that she was responsible for his disappearance.
The allegations and claims made by the traditional healers have not been independently verified. Another eyewitness at the scene, Prince Copeland, questioned the absence of police several hours after the body was discovered.
Copeland said authorities respond quickly to reports involving rape and theft but questioned the lack of an immediate police presence following the discovery of a dead body.
“The government can pressure people when people rape, when they hear that rape case, stealing case, but life is lost, and no police is yet on the scene since this morning. It’s now 10 a.m. This is really horrible,” Copeland said.
Meanwhile, a motorcyclist identified as Quassee, who was also present at the scene, called on young people to be more vigilant. “We need to mind ourselves as young people. Our own Mothers are the ones killing us today,” Quassee said.
When asked what he meant by the statement, Quassee declined to provide further explanation. The discovery of Stemmer’s body has raised fresh questions about what happened to him after the canoe capsizing.
The initial police account attributed his disappearance to rough sea conditions, strong waves and currents. However, the Human Rights Commission’s reported observations have raised concerns that require further investigation.
As of Monday, there was no official police or medical determination establishing that Stemmer was murdered or confirming how the reported injuries occurred.
A formal examination of the body, including a medical determination of the cause of death, is expected to provide further information. The Maryland County Police authorities had not publicly released a statement on the circumstances surrounding the discovery of the body as of the time of this report.
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