Monique Hepburn, News Editor
Grieving relatives of the slain victims in Prospect, St. Thomas. - IAN ALLEN/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE PEACE on a usually quiet morning in the eastern parish of St. Thomas was shattered yester-day when residents of Prospect and Needham Pen stumbled on the bodies of five members of one family.
The bodies, which were found at three separate places, are those of businesswoman, Patrice Martin-McCool, 30; Sean Chin, eight; Marsha George, three; a nine-year-old boy known only as 'Jesse', and Terry-Ann Moham-med, 40, all from Duhaney Pen addresses in St. Thomas. Reports are that one child is missing, three-year-old Jahad George.
In Prospect there were two murder scenes, two bodies found on each scene and one body was found in Needham Pen, four miles away.
Assistant Commissioner of Police, Arthur Martin, told The Gleaner yesterday that the gruesome murders, which might have taken place between 11 o'clock on Saturday night and early Sunday morning, are believed to be linked to the illegal drug trade.
SHOCK AND DISGUST
"We have five people murdered, but they are spread over three murder scenes and a wide geographical area," said ACP Martin. "All five (persons) are related family-wise and we have every reason to believe that the killers are involved in all three murder scenes."
ACP Martin said such crimes were unusual, especially in St. Thomas, and that the police were asking that residents remain calm.
Hundreds of bewildered residents converged on the murder scenes, trying to make sense of the killings. Many expressed shock and disgust. An obviously distraught onlooker shouted, "Dem man yah wicked man, dem wicked."
Friends and neighbours cried openly and many became hysterical as the bodies were being taken away. They were particularly disturbed by the deaths of the children and questioned the mind of the persons who could have murdered such young and innocent people.
"So far we have some leads that are pointing to the drug trade," ACP Martin said. "We are getting information and we are acting on it."
Jonique Gaynor contributed to the story
