The family of 27-year-old Toshyna Patterson is asking the public for privacy as they mourn the loss of her and her 10-month-old baby, Sarayah Paulwell.
Patterson and Sarayah, who is also the daughter of Jamaican Member of Parliament Phillip Paulwell, were kidnapped from their home in Kingston in early September.
Police later confirmed that the mother and daughter were “brutally murdered” and their bodies burnt.
In a statement posted via Facebook, Patterson’s family thanked the public for their support.
“We prayed for their safe return home, but our prayers weren’t answered the way we hoped. The past month had been tremendously difficult … Nothing could have prepared us for the events that unfolded. Our beautiful granddaughter, great-granddaughter, niece, and cousin Sarayah Paulwell were the joy of our family, always laughing, always ready to play,” the statement reads.
“Tosh was so kind, gentle and always wore a beautiful smile. She was able to start and maintain her company on her own while attending school and being pregnant,” it stated further.
Patterson’s family said they were looking forward to witnessing, “Tosh flourish in her many endeavours and to see the wonderful person Sarayah would’ve bloomed into.”
In the post, the family thanked Jamaicans at home and across the diaspora for their support. They also thanked the police for their swift investigation.
Paulwell ‘heartbroken’
Phillip Paulwell, the father of 10-month-old Sarayah, also released a statement following confirmation that Patterson and her baby were killed.
The MP said he wants justice to be brought against all parties involved in the disappearance and subsequent death of the infant and her mother.
“The past few weeks have been extremely difficult for me as I grappled with the abduction of my daughter and her mother. I have prayed unceasingly for the safe return of Toshyna Patterson and my daughter Sarayah and I am heartbroken that the worst has happened. Nothing could have prepared me for the events that unfolded since last week Thursday and the alleged discoveries,” he said in a statement.
“I am praying for Toshyna’s family who I know are experiencing the unbearable grief and pain of losing their beloved daughter and grandaughter. As a human being, father, lawyer and legislator I am hoping that all who were involved are brought to Justice and punished to the fullest extent of the law,” he continued.
United States Navy petty officer 34-year-old Leoda Bradshaw, the mother of Paulwell’s eight-year-old daughter, has since been charged in relation to the case.
It is alleged that Bradshaw and her cousin Roland Balford contracted two men to kidnap and murder the two after learning about Sarayah’s existence. The four have been arrested and slapped with various charges relating to murder and kidnapping.
