The disappearance and subsequent death of 10-month-old daughter Sarayah Paulwell, the daughter of Jamaican Member of Parliament Phillip Paulwell, and her mother, 27-year-old Toshyna Patterson, has become one of the most high-profile criminal cases in Jamaica in recent times.
Over the course of six weeks, the case has unraveled into what could only be described as “complex” and “painful” by local authorities, with allegations that have shocked Jamaicans at home and abroad.
At the center of the case is United States Navy petty officer 34-year-old Leoda Bradshaw, the mother of Paulwell’s eight-year-old daughter, who has since been charged with conspiracy to commit murder, capital murder, among other charges.
Bradshaw was said to be a longtime partner of Paulwell, and it is reported that she considered the MP to be her “spouse.”
Since the charges have been announced, Paulwell has not commented on his relationship with Bradshaw. He however released a statement saying he was “heartbroken” at what has transpired and is “hoping that all who were involved are brought to Justice and punished to the fullest extent of the law.”
The United States Navy Criminal Investigative Service has also joined the investigation.
Timeline of events
On September 5, Bradshaw became aware of the existence of 10-month-old Sarayah, the daughter of Paulwell. According to prosecutors, Bradshaw contacted Sarayah’s mother Toshyna Patterson and advised Patterson that a DNA [test] should be done to determine the paternity of the child. Bradshaw told Patterson that she was the wife of Phillip Paulwell — the two are, however, not married. After the brief exchange, Patterson blocked her from her account.
On September 6, Bradshaw travels from the United States, where she resides, to Jamaica. The prosecution says “her sole purpose” of the trip was to kill Patterson and the child. Upon arriving in Jamaica, Bradshaw, through her cousin and co-accused Roland Balfour, contracted men to kidnap and murder Patterson and Sarayah.
Bradshaw met with two men — Roshane Miller and Richard Brown (both of whom have been slapped with several charges) — to arrange for the kidnappings and murders. The men were paid the equivalent of J$100,000 in United States currency as down payment for the execution of the crime. Another sum of J$400,000 was to be paid after the crime was completed.
On September 9, Bradshaw “placed several calls and conversed with Patterson, with a view to lure her away from her premises,” according to the prosecution.
Bradshaw arrived at Patterson’s home on Gilmour Drive in St Andrew that morning in an SUV. Evidence shows Patterson entering the vehicle with her baby. After approximately 20 minutes, the vehicle drove off.
Patterson reported missing; Bradshaw proclaims innocence
Patterson and her baby were reported missing on September 9. Phillip Paulwell said a $500,000 was being offered for information that could lead to their safe return.
On social media, members of Patterson’s family stated that she told them she was meeting Bradshaw on the day of her and Sarayah’s disappearance.
As rumors and conspiracy theories began to circulate on social media, Bradshaw made a statement denying any involvement in the pair’s abduction.
“The only interaction I have ever had with Ms Patterson is through a brief Facebook exchange,” said Bradshaw in the statement via Facebook on September 10.
“I have never spoken to her by phone nor have I made any arrangements to meet with her. Any such reports in social media are lies and will be passed on to my lawyer for action to be taken in the days ahead.”
In the statement, Bradshaw said she was in a long-term relationship with Phillip Paulwell. She also said she had contacted Patterson on September 5 via Facebook about the possibility of doing a DNA test for Sarayah.
The police launched their investigation.
Read:
- Police making progress in case of Phillip Paulwell’s missing daughter and her mother
- Suspect held in case of Phillip Paulwell’s missing daughter and her mother
On September 15, a person of interest in the case was intercepted at one of the island’s international airports. The identity of the person was not revealed to the public as the police continued their investigation.
Police announce Bradshaw is in custody
On October 6, the police announce that Leoda Bradshaw, a petty officer in the United States Navy, along with three others, were in police custody in connection to the case.
“This investigation has morphed into a very complex case of kidnapping and conspiracy,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Fitz Bailey.
Bailey said the evidence led them in Bradshaw’s direction.
Read: Phillip Paulwell’s longtime partner among 4 in custody over MP’s missing daughter
“As I said, there’s a lot of misinformation that is swirling in the public and we think, in particular, with Ms. Bardshaw, we have evidence that we could advance a case at this time,” he said.
“The evidence that we have is very strong and can stand up to any scrutiny in the court of law. … I am convinced that we are on the right track,” Bailey said, adding that the investigation “… is still ongoing, however, it is at an advanced stage.”
Bodies allegedly found
The bodies of Sarayah Paulwell, the 10-month-old daughter of Jamaican Member of Parliament Phillip Paulwell, and her mother, Toshyna Patterson, were reportedly found on October 6, hours after police confirmed that Bradshaw was in police custody.
According to several reports, two burnt bodies believed to be those of a woman and a baby were found at an undisclosed location in Rockfort, East Kingston, on Friday, October 6. It is alleged that the bodies are that of Patterson and her infant daughter.
Read: Bodies believed to be of Phillip Paulwell’s daughter and her mom found
Police did not confirm the reports.
Patterson and others officially charged
On October 13, police confirmed the deaths of 10-month-old daughter Sarayah Paulwell and her mother 27-year-old Toshyna Patterson.
“I wish to inform the public that we are now satisfied by the overwhelming evidence secured that both Toshyna Patterson and her 10-month-old baby Sarayah were brutally murdered and their bodies burned and disposed of,” Bailey said.
“It is one of the most painful investigations for the team since recent times. However, the team of investigators continues to be professional and remain focused, “he added.
The group of four charged include Bradshaw, 30-year-old Roland Lloyd Balford and Richard Brown, 31, both Kingston graphic artists, and air conditioning technician 29-year-old Rushane Miller.
Leoda Bradshaw was charged with two counts each of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to kidnapping, kidnapping, and capital murder.
Balfour has been charged with two counts of accessory before the fact to kidnapping and two counts accessory before the fact to murder.
After a court hearing on October 13, they were both to be fingerprinted and remanded until a further hearing scheduled for December 1.
Read:
- Phillip Paulwell’s daughter and her mom ‘brutally murdered,’ police confirm
- Phillip Paulwell ‘heartbroken’ by murder of daughter and her mother
- US NCIS joins investigation of the murder Paulwell-Patterson
Brown has been charged with two counts of conspiracy to murder, two counts of conspiracy to kidnapping, two counts of kidnapping, and two counts of murder. Miller, a 29-year-old air conditioning technician, has been charged with two counts of accessory before the fact to kidnapping, and two counts of accessory before the fact to murder. Both will return to court later this month.
