Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer

Left: Joseph Darius Burrows   Right: Bahamian couple, Vevia Moreen and Steve Burrows, arrived in Jamaica last week Monday in search of their son's killer(s), and to plead with the perpetrators to give themselves up. They are offering J$500,000 in addition to a Crime Stop $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and charge of the person(s) responsible for murdering their son, Joseph Darius Burrows, in Mandeville, in November 2004. - Photo by Noel Thompson

WESTERN BUREAU:

A Bahamian couple has journeyed to Jamaica in search of the person or persons who brutally murdered their only son in Mandeville in 2004, as well as to plead with the killer or killers to give themselves up.

The family is also offering a J$600,000 reward to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest and charge of the killer or killers.

Steve and his wife, Vevia Moreen Burrows, landed in Jamaica last Monday and after a week of searches and dialogue with Crime Stop officials, they were left without any clue as to who may have killed their son Joseph Darius Burrows.

"He was a hard-working, strong, handsome and intelligent young man who wanted to become either a doctor or a pastor. He grew up in the Adventist faith and was very active in church. I am very thankful that he was a Christian all his life," Mr. Burrows noted.

Family

Joseph came to Jamaica to attend the Northern Caribbean University in 2001 where he studied biology. While in Jamaica he met and married Altamarae. The union produced a girl - Tajana - who is now five years old.

"On August 31, 2004, we took our son, his wife and child to the airport in The Bahamas to return to Jamaica. On November 7, I received a call from his wife saying that he had not returned home. I found that very strange. The same day I flew to Jamaica," he said.

Depth of despair

On his arrival in Mandeville, Mr. Burrows was joined by relatives and the police in a search for his son. Three days later, Joseph's body was found behind an old car in bushes in the New Green area.

"I could not begin to understand how this could have happened. We had prayed for our son and for his safety. Being a child of God we thought that he was immune to violence. The depth of despair and agony that came over me was one that I cannot describe," he said.

Mrs. Burrows broke down in tears and walked away. "Murderers have no right to take life. Life is precious and when it is gone, it is lost forever. The only way I can go on is believe that he is still here and that's not facing reality," Mr. Burrows continued.

"I firmly trust that God will bless Jamaica because there are genuine people here. It is only a handful of people who are causing the problem."

Mr. Burrows, an accountant, who, along with his wife, now operates a construction company in The Bahamas, is also an elder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. His wife was born in Little London, Westmoreland, but had migrated to The Bahamas at age 11.