Child killed in MoBay, dad on the run
Published:Tuesday | April 26, 2016 | 12:00 AMAdrian Frater
Western Bureau:
The body of a three-year-old girl was found at the popular Dump Up Beach in Montego Bay, St James, yesterday, and based on preliminary investigations by the police, the child's father is believed to be the killer.
Dead is Lashaunie Thomas, of Church Hill in Flanker, while on the run is her 24-year-old father, Rousevelt 'Timmy' Thomas, also of Flanker.
"Based on our investigations, we understand that the child was with her mother (Chris-Ann Clarke) at her home in Flower Hill and the father went there about 8 p.m. and took away the child," said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Steve McGregor, the commanding officer for St James.
According to McGregor, it would appear that when Thomas went to get the child, he had an argument with the child's mother and might have left in quite an agitated mood.
"After the man left with the child, he called his mother and told her that he was going to kill himself and kill the child," said McGregor. "She (the child's grandmother) became quite concerned and called the child's mother and told her what her son had told her."
"The child's mother immediately reported the threat to the police, and we sent out a team of officers to look for the father and the child ... . The team was out all night," continued McGregor. " ... Sadly, we got the news this morning that the child's body was found at Dump Up Beach."
Senseless killings
Based on an eyewitness report, the body, which had no visible signs of violence, was found face down on the beach and was partially covered with sand.
"I truly believe something demonic is happening here in St James ... . These senseless killings are more than strange, " said McGregor.
He revealed to The Gleaner that he had been getting information that persons involved in the lottery scam were being instructed by obeah men to sacrifice a loved one if they want to be successful in the illicit multimillion-dollar scheme.
"I can't say if this is one of those cases, but as soon as I heard the news of this child being killed, it crossed my mind," said McGregor. "Just killing a child like that is strange and requires an explanation."
Despite numerous policing initiatives, St James, which was the most murderous parish with 212 murders last year, is again topping the bloodletting list with more than 60 murders in 2016.