As the reason behind the death of two American missionary couples from the Dallas-based Wycliffe Bible Translators remains a mystery, a seven-member FBI team has been called to join the Guyana police to probe into the slaying this week. Preliminary investigations have suggested that the
case was likely to be murder after a robbery.

Guyana police have asked Brazilian authorities to help track down two suspects who fled with cash stolen from the house the Hicks lived, The Guyana Chronicle reported. The prime suspects are a Brazilian who worked at the cattle ranch, and his Guyanese cousin, sources said.

According to the Associated Press, Richard Hicks, 42, and his wife, Charlene 58, were found dead a week ago at a farm in southwestern Guyana near the border of Brazil.

The couple were devoted staff of Wycliffe Bible Translators and the Summer Institute of Linguistics in Florida. They were specialised in translating the Bible into the Wapishana language which is spoken by thousands of Indians in the region they lived.

Their sudden deaths have shocked Wycliffe: "We were shocked and saddened to hear of the deaths of Rich and Charlene Hicks in Guyana," declared Bob Creson, President of Wycliffe USA, in a statement. "We share the grief and express our condolences to their family, friends and colleagues. Yet we rejoice, knowing that the Hicks are now safely with the God they served and we put our faith in the Word they were faithfully translating in partnership with the Wapishana people. It is this God and His Word that sustain us."

Wcliffe announced that on Friday, a funeral service and burial will be held in Lethem near the farm where the Hicks lived and served. A Canadian memorial service to honour the lives of the Hicks will also be held in Ontario this Saturday. A similar service will be held in Minnesota on 16th April.

It was reported that the most current Wapishana language data completed by the Hicks appears to have been lost in the fire at the scene of the murder, fortunately, much of the backup of the translation materials are safe. Wycliffe asks for prayers for the New Testament Scripture translation in the Wapishana language, which was within only a few years of completion.