Cops probe mystery death of 7-y-o girl
Published:Thursday | July 1, 2021 | 12:13 AMRuddy Mathison/Gleaner Writer
The St Catherine North police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sunday’s mysterious death of seven-year-old Tianna Russell of New Works in Linstead, St Catherine.
Detectives have taken into custody the girl’s 39-year-old father and her stepmother, who were both picked up at their home on Monday. Neither has yet been charged.
Reports are that the seven-year-old, who was a student of Linstead Primary and Junior High, went to bed on Sunday and fell ill during the night. The stepmother reportedly alerted the father to the child’s heavy breathing.
The girl was taken to Linstead Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Multiple cuts and bruises to her body, face, and fingers have reportedly aroused suspicion.
Neighbours expressed shock at the news of the girl’s death and the subsequent detention of her parents.
“None of us are aware of this situation. We only saw the police visit the home Monday evening and took the couple away, and then we heard that the little girl was dead,” said a resident who requested anonymity.
The neighbour reported hearing no screams or other noise coming from the house to suggest that the child was in distress.
Another neighbour revealed that the parents generally do not socialise with other members of the community, preferring to remain isolated.
Principal of Linstead Primary and Junior High, Marche-Gay Campbell, told The Gleaner on Wednesday that she could not comment on the condition of the grade two student because there have not been face-to-face classes for a while.
“Students in the lower classes would not have spent enough time with their new teachers in a face-to-face setting due to the COVID-19 restrictions, so it’s very difficult to give a true assessment of the student in question,” Campbell said.
The Child Protection and Family Services Agency said that it has launched an investigation to determine whether any reports of concern had been filed.
“We got the report just this morning and our officers are on the ground,” said Public Relations Manager Rochelle Dixon Gordon.
“However, because it is still an active police matter, we have to wait on the findings,” she added.