‘HORROR MOVIE’

As the Jamaican police intensified their search on Monday for Dawn Anderson, the 64-year-old British woman who went missing last week, her family’s hopes of finding her alive dwindled.

By nightfall, their worst fears were realised when the authorities discovered what they believed to be Anderson’s body in a shallow grave in Petersfield, Westmoreland.

Anderson had been missing since Monday, November 25, just a day after arriving in Jamaica for her annual winter vacation.

Speaking with The Gleaner on Monday, hours before the discovery, her daughter, Fiona Anderson, said the family had a gut feeling that her mother was dead.

She noted the profound impact her disappearance had on the family, likening the experience to a “horror movie”.

“This is the reality of Jamaica right now. It is not safe for women ... . Violence against women is an epidemic in this country. There is story after story of violence against women and then murder, and it’s all senseless,” she said.

According to data from the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, an average of 124 women have been murdered annually in the country between 2019 and 2023.

Fiona explained that her mother, who was born in Jamaica but moved to the United Kingdom at the age of seven, had spent her first night in Montego Bay.

She recalled Anderson being very excited and looking forward to heading to her home in Roaring River, Westmoreland, the next day.

However, Fiona’s optimism quickly turned to concern when she received an urgent message from her mother’s husband of nine months, 37-year-old Andre Morrison, asking her to call him.

When Fiona returned the call, Morrison told her that Anderson had gone missing in Negril after he had left her on a beach for hours. He claimed he had reported her disappearance to the Negril police and that a search party had been activated.

Fiona was confused, as her mother was very familiar with Negril, and it seemed unlikely she would go missing there. When she questioned Morrison about whether he had checked if Anderson had returned home, he admitted he had not. She also reportedly contacted the Negril police to enquire about the missing person report, only to learn that Morrison had not filed one.

Commanding officer for Westmoreland Police Division, Superintendent Othneil Dobson, told The Gleaner that a missing person report was filed for Anderson at the Whithorn Police Station on November 27 – two days after Anderson’s arrival – by her sister.

He said the police are continuing their investigation and are searching for Morrison, the last person seen with Anderson. He added that Morrison, who has a “history” with law enforcement, is also being sought by cops in multiple police divisions.

Stating that her mother was the “heart” of their family, another daughter, Krystal Anderson, said the devoted mother of three – who has five grandchildren and two great- grandchildren – also extended her love to others in her community.

“Mom is a caring, loving family member. She has always been giving care; she has done that. Ever since me and my sisters were young, she has looked after other people. That’s all she has ever done,” Krystal said.

“She also has an entrepreneurial spirit about her. She loves creating things. She loves doing new things. She loves new challenges, and she also likes to build other people up,” Fiona added.

After news of the discovery of the body believed to be Anderson’s, Fiona was too heartbroken to speak with The Gleaner.

sashana.small@gleanerjm.com