THERE WAS yet to be confirmation yesterday afternoon, on whether a decomposed body, found in Belvedere, St Andrew, late Sunday morning, is that of 11-year-old Ananda Dean.

Acting Deputy Superintendent, Altemorth Campbell, of the St Andrew North Police Division, told The Gleaner yesterday that conclusive identification was expected to be announced today, through the results of the relevant DNA tests.

Meanwhile, it was a sombre day in Whitehall, St Andrew, yesterday as news of the recovery of the body, believed to be that of Dean, rocked the community. Ananda was reported missing by her aunt on September 17 after she failed to return home from school.

A shoe, which was found at the scene, has been identified by relatives as Ananda's.

Heavy blow

The news came as a heavy blow to teachers and students at the Swallowfield Primary and Junior High School, where Ananda was a sixth-grade student.

"This is just traumatic, especially for the children in her class," said Neril Ellis, vice-principal of the school.

The school's regular morning devotion, attended yesterday by ministers of religion from the community, as well as a host of missionaries and other concerned citizens, was extended to allow more time for honouring Ananda's memory.

Counsellors from the Ministry of Education, as well as members of the Peace Management Initiative, were present in every classroom to help ease students and teachers through the early stages of the grieving process.

"It has hit us full force. We're just trying to get the students back to normal as quickly as possible because we cannot let it linger," Ellis said.