Adrian Frater, News EditorWESTERN BUREAU:
While anxious relatives are becoming increasingly frustrated, the police say they are on track in investigating the disappearance of two persons in western Jamaica and that a breakthrough is imminent in one of the cases.
The two persons, who went missing in separate instances, are 27-year-old Andrea Jackson of Santoy in Hanover; and 38-year-old Harold Pattico of Bogue Village in Montego Bay, St. James, who disappeared without a trace in June.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Les Green, the head of the Major Investigation Task Force (MIT), said he had no information on Jackson, who was reportedly lured away, in January, by a man with whom she had a relationship.
ACP Green said, however, that significant progress was being made in the case of Pattico, who had only recently returned to the island.
Pondering son's fate
Pattico's mother, who has posted a J$100,000 reward for information on his whereabouts, told The Gleaner from her home overseas that her frustration was increasing daily as she continues to ponder the fate of her son.
"It's been two months now and I have not heard anything to ease my anxiety," commented the mother, who asked not to be identified by name. "While I am thankful for what the police have done so far, I still think more could have been done."
In the case of Jackson's mother, Jasmine Johnson,eight months without a definitive word on her daughter has been taking a heavy toll on her as she has started giving up hope that she will ever see her daughter alive again.
"I sometimes try to comfort myself with thoughts that she might be out there somewhere alive and will come back one day, but deep down I believe she is dead," said Mrs. Johnson.
"There is no way she would have gone off leaving her four children just like that."
Like Pattico's mother, Mrs. Johnson said she was not too impressed with the police's investigation. According to her, the police only did an initial five-day search and nothing else has been done since.
"The suspect in the case is now out on bail and as far as I can see, the investigations have stopped," said Mrs. Johnson. "All I can do is leave the matter in God's hand and hope for the best."
adrian.frater@gleanerjm.com