MONROVIA – The Ministry of Justice has officially disclosed the results of an autopsy conducted on the late Mr. Anwar Futloo, the former Manager of the Boulevard Palace Hotel, whose sudden death on December 30, 2024, sparked widespread public concern. In a statement issued Wednesday, December 3, 2025, the Ministry confirmed that the autopsy performed by the state pathologist, Dr. Benedict B. Kolee, points to suicide by ingestion of a concentrated corrosive acid. The disclosure follows months of speculation surrounding the circumstances leading to Futloo’s tragic passing.
According to the Ministry, the autopsy was performed on January 7, 2025, at St. Moses Funeral Parlours on Somalia Drive, in the presence of family members, law enforcement personnel, and mortuary staff. The body was identified by his wife, Mosphine Cargeor Futloo, who, along with investigators, witnessed the examination. The Ministry emphasized that the autopsy was requested to determine the precise cause of death amid public questions and conflicting reports at the time of the incident.
Police records presented as part of the autopsy narrative indicate that on the day of his death, Futloo visited the offices of a humanitarian NGO on 9th Street, Sinkor, an establishment he frequented due to his acquaintance with CEO Mr. Quashie. Security guard Edwin Nimely, who was on duty at the time, reportedly allowed Futloo into the building after observing him carrying a plastic bag from Habel Supermarket. Minutes later, Nimely said he heard Futloo calling for help and claiming that he had attempted suicide.
Following Nimely’s alert to police officers stationed along Tubman Boulevard, law enforcement responded and transported Futloo to the John F. Kennedy Medical Center. Despite emergency medical efforts, he was pronounced dead later that evening. Staff of Habel Supermarket confirmed to investigators that Futloo purchased a corrosive cleaning substance from the store shortly before the incident, adding further context to the emerging sequence of events.
Dr. Kolee’s autopsy report presents extensive internal damage consistent with the ingestion of a strong acid. The external examination noted dark tarry substances around Futloo’s mouth and streaks of dark discoloration on his abdomen, though no signs of external violence were observed. Internally, the findings were more severe as the stomach exhibited a large perforation, the intestines showed chemical necrosis, and various organs displayed damage linked to high-acidity exposure. Toxicological tests conducted on multiple tissue samples including gastric content, liver, lungs, urine, and peritoneal fluid detected the presence of a strong acid. Histological examinations further confirmed coagulative necrosis of the stomach wall, aligning with injuries typically caused by corrosive chemical ingestion. The pathologist concluded that the cause of death was “ingestion of concentrated acid,” ruling the manner of death as “unnatural” and consistent with a self-inflicted act.
The autopsy also reinforced earlier medical assessments from the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, where doctors reported severe internal injuries resulting from the corrosive substance. These injuries included extensive burns to the throat, stomach, and intestines, which ultimately led to rapid organ failure despite emergency intervention. Medical officials had initially cited acid ingestion as the likely cause of death, but the formal autopsy now provides definitive confirmation.
The Ministry’s statement aims to address lingering uncertainty in the public sphere, especially given the unusual circumstances under which the incident occurred. Questions emerged immediately after Futloo’s passing, with some speculating foul play due to his managerial role at one of Monrovia’s premier hotels and the abrupt nature of his death. However, the Ministry insists the investigation produced no evidence of violence or external coercion.
Futloo’s death has left friends, colleagues, and family members in deep mourning, with many expressing shock over the revelations surrounding his final moments. As the full autopsy findings circulate, the public discourse is expected to shift toward mental health awareness and the unspoken personal struggles that can lead to fatal outcomes. The Ministry of Justice has encouraged the public to rely on verified information as it works to bring closure to the case.
The case is now formally concluded based on the autopsy results, though the Ministry urges citizens to remain supportive of the grieving family. With the final report establishing suicide by acid ingestion, officials hope the release of these findings will dispel rumors and ensure clarity in a matter that has gripped national attention for nearly a year.
