WESTERN BUREAU:

Yesterday was not a typical day at Manning's School in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland.

It was a day that the school family spent agonising over the bizarre death of fourth-form student, 14-year-old Kadijah Waldron, who was killed in an apparent murder/suicide by her mother on the weekend.

"Some of the students, especially those who knew Kadijah ... teachers, everybody alike were so sad," said principal Gloria Wagstaff. "She was quite pleasant and got on well with her classmates."

The headmistress said that plans are in place to provide ongoing counselling for a special group of fourth formers, who last year shared a "tragic incident" that claimed the life of a classmate.

Potassium chloride used

Kadijah and her three-month old sister, Ashley Waldron, were reportedly injected and killed by their 41-year-old mother, Carol Waldron - a critical care nurse, with what is believed to be potassium chloride, before she took her own life.

The bodies of the Grange Hill, Westmoreland, residents were found shortly after 6:00 a.m. on Saturday, inside a room at a small Montego Bay hotel. Investigators found a suicide note, reportedly penned by Nurse Waldron in which she spoke to marital problems, including infidelity.

"We never heard her talk about having any problems at home. She was a quiet little girl though," recalls one of Kadijah's schoolmates.

A candle-lighting ceremony will be held in her memory, but the date has not been finalised.

Meantime, colleagues at the Savanna-la-Mar Hospital, where nurse Waldron was employed, were seemingly depressed. A senior nurse disclosed that they felt badly over the incident.

"The mood is very unpleasant. She was one of the best because once she was around, everything was alright," the colleague said.

Family sources say that Michael Waldron, the husband and father, is traumatised by the incident, but would take no blame for his wife's action.

"Mike said he had, on occasions, warned that his wife was selfish," the source added.