Body of UCC student had no visible marks of assault — Police
The Central Regional Police Command has stated that contrary to reports in sections of the media that parts of the body of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) student, Innocentia Avinu, were missing, the body found had no visible marks of assault.
In a statement, the police said it had launched investigations into the death of the 20-year-old Level 200 Bachelor of Commerce (Human Resource) student whose body was discovered at Hutchland Beach in Cape Coast last Friday.
The statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Central Regional Police Command, Chief Inspector Isaac Evans Ettie, said the Cape Coast District Police Command received information that a female body had been washed ashore at about 3:15 a.m. on June 12, 2026.
It said upon receiving the report, a team of police officers proceeded to the scene where they found the body of a young woman lying face down on the beach.
According to the statement, blood was seen oozing from the nose of the deceased.
However, a careful examination of the body at the scene revealed no visible marks of assault.
It said the police subsequently took photographs of the scene and conveyed the body of the deceased to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital mortuary for preservation, identification and autopsy.
The statement stated that chief fishermen along the coast were informed and requested to alert members of their communities to assist in identifying the deceased.
The statement said police investigations later led to the identification of the deceased as Innocentia Avinu, a 20-year-old second-year student of the University of Cape Coast.
Chief Inspector Ettie explained that on June 13, 2026, a family member visited the police station and identified photographs of the deceased.
It indicated that following the development, the Dean of Students of the UCC was informed and joined police officers and family members at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital mortuary, where the body was formally identified.
The statement further indicated that the body was re-examined in the presence of relatives and no physical injuries or signs of assault were detected.
UCC confirmation
Meanwhile, a statement from the university confirmed that the deceased was a Level 200 Bachelor of Commerce (Human Resource) student.
A statement from the university’s Public Affairs Directorate and signed by Dr Kwabena Antwi Konadu said the deceased's roommate, with whom she resided in a private hostel at
Amamoma, a community near the university, reported to the police station with a photograph that helped confirm the deceased’s identity as Innocentia Atsufui Avinu.
The statement said the roommate recounted that the deceased had last been seen two days earlier, at about 7:00 p.m., when she received a phone call, dressed casually and left the room.
“The general public is also being advised to desist from sharing or publicising false information about the incident, as such actions may impede ongoing investigations and cause unnecessary distress to the bereaved family, course mates, management and the entire university community,” the statement said.
It said appropriate support measures were being extended to the family, the affected roommate, fellow students and course mates during this difficult period.
