The family of 27-year-old Toshyna Patterson and 10-month-old Sarayah Paulwell is asking for privacy as they mourn the loss of their loved ones.
Patterson and her baby Sarayah were kidnapped, murdered, and their bodies burnt on Saturday, September 9.
Baby Sarayah is the daughter of the Member of Parliament for East Kingston and Port Royal, Phillip Paulwell.
In a social media post to Facebook that was verified by our news centre, Patterson’s family thanked members of the public for their unwavering support.
Robian Williams reports.
The statement reads, “We prayed for their safe return home, but our prayers weren’t answered the way we hoped”.
Patterson and baby Sarayah were last seen at their Gilmore Drive, Kingston 20 home on the morning of September 9. They allegedly entered an SUV that was parked at their gate. They allegedly remained in the vehicle for 15 minutes.
According to investigators Patterson and her daughter never exited the vehicle. They were reportedly taken to the hills of Rollington Town, where they were shot and killed and their bodies burnt.
The statement from Patterson’s family says, “the past month had been tremendously difficult…nothing could have prepared us for the events that unfolded.”
It further states, “our beautiful granddaughter, great-granddaughter, niece, and cousin Sarayah Paulwell were the joy of our family, always laughing, always ready to play.
It says, “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.”
In the post, the family expresses their sincere gratitude to the people of Jamaica and in the diaspora. They thanked the police for their swift investigation.
Patterson’s family says they were looking forward to witnessing, “Tosh flourish in her many endeavours and to see the wonderful person Sarayah would’ve bloomed into.”
Four people have been arrested and charged in connection with the brutal murders.
The woman believed to be the mastermind of the gruesome act, Leoda Bradshaw, shares a child with Phillip Paulwell.
Bradshaw, her cousin Roland Balfour, Richard Brown and Roshane Miller have been slapped with a range of charges to include, capital murder, conspiracy to kidnap and accessory before the fact.
They are booked to return to the Home Circuit Court on December 1, 2023.
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