Danielle Rowe probe classified priority by cops

THE MULTILEVEL investigative team probing the gruesome murder of eight-year-old Danielle Rowe has indicated that it is following good leads and yesterday, collectively, revisited the scene along Roosevelt Avenue, where the primary school student was found with her throat slashed last Thursday.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey, head of the Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) crime portfolio, said investigations into the matter are a priority and will take precedence over everything else at this time.

“I think as a law-enforcement body, we owe it to the public to ensure that justice is served in this case. Every case of homicide that we investigate is important, but this one … ,” Bailey said as he emphasised that Danielle's death pulled at the heartstrings.

Bailey said that the JCF is committed to ensuring that justice is served and held a case review yesterday consisting of police personnel from different JCF formations.

The police say they were able to get a better feel of the scene and do a better assessment through canvassing.

Bailey said the public has been helpful and implored everyone to rethink if they were in the vicinity between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

“Jog your memory, check your dash cam to see if you observed anything. A female, multicoloured top and blue denim, walking anywhere in the vicinity with a young child and possibly carrying a knapsack on her back,” Bailey said.

The police said all resources and energy would be pooled to ensure that the case is not one that would sit on the shelf.

“For that child to be killed in such a brutal way, it must hit the nerve of every Jamaican,” Bailey said.

Police investigators on Monday disclosed that they have video footage of the child in the company of a woman in an area close to where she was found with her throat slashed.

On Wednesday, the police also released an electronically generated photo of a woman they say could assist investigators with information relating to the death of the schoolgirl.

Danielle, who is the daughter of a policeman, died at the Bustamante Hospital for Children on Saturday, almost two days after she was abducted outside her school.

She was rushed to hospital after her nearly lifeless body was found in the east Kingston community of Vineyard Town last Thursday, according to police reports.

Bailey said investigators believe Danielle was picked up by the woman at Braeton Primary and Infant School in Portmore, St Catherine.

It is unclear how they travelled, but the video showed Danielle and the woman near Roosevelt Avenue, near the National Stadium, in St Andrew.

The police are renewing the call for persons with information to contact the NIB Tip Line at 811, Crime Stop 311, or police 119.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com