Source: Detectives believe bodies of child and mother were disposed of in East Kingston
Published:Sunday | October 8, 2023 | 12:13 AMLivern Barrett - Senior Staff Reporter
Police investigators believe that the bodies of Sarayah Paulwell, the infant daughter of opposition Member of Parliament (MP) Phillip Paulwell, and her mother, Toshyna Patterson, were discarded at a “crime scene” that has been located in east Kingston, law enforcement sources revealed yesterday.
The disclosure came after police crime scene investigators spent hours scouring the site, located at an undisclosed location in Rockfort, on Friday and again yesterday.
United States Navy petty officer Leoda Bradshaw, 34, is one of four people now in police custody in connection with the disappearance of the 10-month-old child and her 27-year-old mother a month ago.
Bradshaw, who her attorney said maintains her innocence, also has a child for Paulwell – an eight-year-old daughter.
“A crime scene was identified and processed by the police. Detectives believe that the bodies of the two people, the child and her mother, were disposed of there,” a source close to the investigation told The Sunday Gleaner on Saturday.
Yesterday, police officials declined to comment on the latest development.
In a media update on Friday, Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey expressed confidence that the evidence against Bradshaw and the other suspects can stand up to scrutiny in any court of law.
“This investigation has morphed into a very complex case of kidnapping and conspiracy [to murder]. The investigation is still ongoing. However, it is at an advanced stage,” Bailey said.
When contacted yesterday, he declined to comment further.
Law enforcement sources say criminal charges will be filed against all four suspects early this week, and that the country’s top prosecutor is expected to use her powers to have the case bypass a committal proceeding hearing in the Parish Court.
“I have no comment,” Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn told The Sunday Gleaner yesterday when asked if her office was preparing a voluntary bill of indictment to have the case transferred directly to the Criminal Division of the High Court.
BRADSHAW MAINTAINS HER INNOCENCE
Deborah Martin, the attorney representing Bradshaw, said that up to late yesterday, no charges had been filed against her client.
“We wait to be formally advised by the police as to what steps they are taking. As yet, this has not happened,” she told The Sunday Gleaner.
“If and when the time comes, we will get appropriate disclosure. Until then, we do not wish to comment on things that are not coming to us formally.”
The attorney said Bradshaw maintains her innocence and is cooperating with investigators.
The 10-month-old child and her mother were reportedly abducted from their home on Gilmour Drive in St Andrew on September 9.
Bailey, who heads the crime and security portfolio, said the quality of evidence amassed so far is sufficient to conclude that Bradshaw is a prime suspect.
“We have evidence that we could advance a case at this time, but we want to ensure that we cross every ‘t’ and dot every ‘i’,” he said.
Efforts by The Sunday Gleaner to get a comment from Paulwell yesterday were unsuccessful.