Parents of missing teacher remain hopeful
Published:Wednesday | April 24, 2019 | 12:31 AMDanae Hyman/Staff Reporter
The parents of 41-year-old teacher Samuel Martin, who went missing last Friday, have said that despite his car being found and no leads days after his disappearance, they are remaining optimistic for the safe return of their son.
“I am still expecting them to find him or hear something,” the Reverend Raymond Coke, Martin’s adoptive father, told The Gleaner yesterday. “There was no sign in his car of any criminal activity, so I’m just waiting for someone to call now and say they see him somewhere or something.”
Coke said he last saw his son on the day of his disappearance as Martin visited him before taking a family member he had picked up at the airport to Mandeville. He reportedly left Mandeville about 3 p.m., heading back to Kingston, and has not been seen or heard from since.
When Martin did not return to Coke’s house on Saturday as he does every weekend, it triggered alarm bells and a report was made to the police.
Coke said a panic button was pressed from his son’s car at 6:30 on Friday evening, which led the authorities to the car.
However, on their arrival, Martin, who is of dark complexion, medium build and is about 5 feet 9 inches tall, was not seen in the car or the surrounding area.
While his house keys were in the vehicle, the car key and documents were missing.
“When I spoke with the detective this morning (Tuesday), they think that perhaps they moved him from there. They may have taken him there, parked the car, and moved him somewhere else, [which is] why they can’t find any clue in the area,” Coke said.
A group of more than 30 people have been combing the May Pen area without any success since the teacher’s disappearance.
Martin, who has had stints at a number of high schools, was teaching at St Joseph’s Teachers’ College at the time he went missing.
The police are urging anyone with information that could assist investigators to contact the Matilda’s Corner Police Station at 876-978-6003, police 119 emergency number, or the nearest police station.