Janice Tomlinson, mother of Shaneka Shakes, one of two girls murdered in Town Head, Westmoreland, on June 30, 2005, reflects on the death of her daughter. - FILE
THE STAR newspaper is continuing its special project, 'Hunt for Child Killer', under which members of the public are being urged to give information which could lead to the arrest of murderers.
A reward totalling $100,000 is being offered for the arrest and charge of person or persons responsible for the death of Shaneka Shakes.
Call Crime Stop toll-free at 1-888-991-4000. Full confidentiality will be maintained.
Janice Tomlinson dreads leaving her home because questions about her daughter Shaneka Shakes' death are too painful for her to deal with.
"Just to avoid people asking me about her or how I am doing, I don't go out. Her father called me last week, saying he doesn't want to hear anything more about it because him really feel it. Him seh him nuh go pon di road either because him no want nobody ask him about it," she said.
Shaneka Shakes, nine, and her friend, Shauna-Kay Ledgister, eight, were found raped and murdered in a cane field in the Town Head district in Burnt Savannah, Westmoreland, on June 30 last year.
Reports are that the girls went to school on Wednes-day morning but left during devotion to take a dress to Shauna-Kay's sister for the school's graduation that was set to take place the following day.
It is suspected that the girls had taken a short cut located directly behind the school to go to the sister's house nearby. The girls reportedly left the dress at the house and headed back for school but never made it. When the girls did not return home after school that evening, Shauna-Kay's mother, Shernette Clarke, summoned the police.
Tomlinson said her daughter was well known in Town Head, the community she lived in. She said Shaneka was useful around the the house, helping out whenever she could. Tomlinson said she lived near a shop and sent Shaneka to purchase food. She said this was one of the areas she tried to avoid as much as possible.
Tomlinson said last week felt like reliving the one-year-old ordeal again as a memorial was held for both girls.
"It feels like she just died to me. Everybody was down because the death really affected us," she said.
