Son's Heartbreaking Account of Mother's Mysterious Death in Ghana Hotel
The son of a pregnant British woman discovered deceased in a Ghanaian hotel bathtub under mysterious circumstances has vividly recounted the devastating moment he was informed of his mother's passing. The body of Charmain Speirs, aged 41, was found in Koforidua back in 2015, merely two days after her husband Eric Adusah, a Christian preacher originally from Ghana, had returned to the United Kingdom.
Investigation and Inconclusive Evidence
Local authorities in Ghana arrested Mr Adusah on suspicion of murder, but the case was ultimately dropped due to insufficient evidence. He has consistently denied any involvement in her death. A post-mortem examination conducted in Ghana determined the cause of death as a heroin overdose. A second post-mortem carried out eight months later in the UK found no signs of assault.
Investigations into the death of Ms Speirs, who grew up in Arbroath, Scotland, came to a halt when a coroner recorded an open verdict at an inquest held in Essex during 2016. Now, a full decade later, a new BBC Disclosure documentary titled 'Charmain and the Prophet' has reinvestigated the evidence and interviewed individuals who knew Ms Speirs, including her son Isaac.
Isaac's Emotional Testimony
In an exclusive clip shared with the Daily Mail, Isaac describes the traumatic moment he learned of his mother's death. He says: 'We were just sitting there for five or ten minutes in just silence. I remember my dad told me that she was dead.' The first thing I said was 'you're joking'. He's like 'I'm not joking'. I just kept repeating 'you're joking'. No father should have to tell his son his mum's died.'
Isaac, now 19 years old, also accuses Adusah of physical violence towards both him and his mother. He recalls: 'I could hear my mum screaming and crying. And he came into my room trying to hit me. My mum stood between me and him and he ended up punching her in the face. He called himself a prophet. What prophet would hit their wife? What prophet would lay a finger on a child? I don't think any prophet would do something like that.'
He further claims that Adusah controlled 'every aspect' of his mother's life, including her phone, finances, clothing, eating habits, and overall 'happiness', accusing him of 'dictating her life'.
Background and Marriage
Ms Speirs moved to Glasgow at age 19, where she worked in various shops, restaurants, and bars. She later relocated to Swansea at 30 to study photojournalism. She gave birth to Isaac in 2007 as a single mother and met Eric Adusah in the spring of 2014 through a Christian dating website. The couple quickly married in September of that same year.
She became known as the 'First Lady' at Adusah's Global Light Revival Church, enjoying a celebrity status within the congregation as the wife of a self-proclaimed 'prophet'. The church operates three sites in Walthamstow, East London; Dublin, Ireland; and Maryland in the United States, where Adusah now resides with his new wife and children.
Events Leading to the Tragedy
Shortly after the wedding, Ms Speirs confided in her mother, Linda Speirs, that their marriage was already facing difficulties and she was planning to move back home. Despite this, she flew to Ghana and was found dead at the Mac-Dic Royal Plaza Hotel after failing to check out at midday on March 20, 2015, as scheduled.
According to police records, Adusah was the last known person to see her alive. He stated they went for lunch, visited the pool, and then returned to their hotel room. Adusah claimed he left the hotel after midnight to travel to Accra for a 6am meeting before flying back to the UK, while Ms Speirs wished to stay longer in Ghana.
New Documentary Revelations
The BBC documentary series claims to have uncovered a significant omission from Adusah's account of the events at the hotel. A witness working at the hotel that night reported that two tall men, one carrying a briefcase, arrived with Adusah late at night and went to their room. These men were said to have stayed for up to an hour before assisting Adusah with loading bags into his car. Adusah then left the hotel at 1am, instructing staff not to disturb his wife.
Adusah never mentioned these men to detectives in Ghana. Police documents confirm witnesses reported the presence of three men. Two of these individuals were later tracked down and confirmed they knew Adusah through his ministry and were present that night, but claimed they were merely praying in the room. A third man appears to have never been traced.
Adusah asserted he was meeting a reverend in Accra, but the BBC located this man, who did not corroborate the story. Ms Speirs's medical cause of death was officially recorded at Chelmsford Coroner's Court as acute opiate poisoning. However, insufficient evidence regarding how heroin entered her body led to an open conclusion at the inquest.
Current Status and Documentary Release
Eric Adusah, who now lives in Maryland under the name Eric Isaiah Kusi Boateng, was contacted for comment by the Daily Mail through his church. He told the BBC he suffered 'severe emotional distress' from the investigation and attempts to question him, as well as 'profound personal trauma' after losing his wife and child.
The three-part BBC Disclosure documentary 'Charmain and the Prophet' next airs on BBC One on Monday at 8pm. The full series is currently available on BBC iPlayer for viewing.
