Charges have now been laid in the case of Jamaican Member of Parliament Philip Paulwell’s 10-month-old daughter Sarayah Paulwell and her mother 27-year-old Toshyna Patterson who went missing in September.
In a media update this morning, Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey revealed that the mother and daughter were brutally killed.
“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 mother and daughter were abducted from their home on Gilmour Drive in St Andrew on September 9.
While Bailey did not go into the evidence found, it is alleged that the bodies of Patterson and her daughter were found last week Friday in Rockfort, East Kingston.
The case will be taken directly to the Supreme Court, Bailey said.
Paulwell’s longtime partner charged
At the center of the case is United States Navy petty officer 34-year-old Leoda Bradshaw, the longtime partner of Phillip Paulwell and the mother of his eight-year-old daughter.
When the mother and daughter pair were first reported missing, rumors circulated on social media that Bradshaw was somehow involved in their disappearance — allegations that she denied via a statement on her Facebook page.
“The only interaction I have ever had with Ms Patterson is through a brief Facebook exchange,” said Bradshaw in the statement.
“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,” she said.
Read more on this case:
- Bodies believed to be of Phillip Paulwell’s daughter and her mom found
- Update: Phillip Paulwell’s longtime partner among 4 in custody over MP’s missing daughter
- Jamaican MP Phillip Paulwell’s daughter and her mother have seemingly been abducted
In a media update last week, Bailey said that the evidence gathered by the police pointed in Bradshaw’s direction.
“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.
Phillip Paulwell has not yet commented on the charges.
Charges laid
The group of four charged include Bradshaw, 30-year-old Roland Lloyd Balfour and Richard Brown, 31, both Kingston graphic artists, and air conditioning technician 29-year-old Rushane Miller.
The charges are as follows:
Bradshaw:
* Two counts of conspiracy to commit murder
* Two counts of conspiracy to kidnapping
* Two counts of kidnapping
* Two counts of murder
Balford:
* Two counts of conspiracy to commit murder
* Two counts of conspiracy to kidnapping
* Misprision of felony
Miller:
* Two counts of conspiracy to commit murder
* Two counts of conspiracy to kidnapping
* Misprision of felony
Brown:
* Two counts of conspiracy to commit murder
* Two counts of conspiracy to kidnapping
* Misprision of felony
