Postby PariaMan » November 10th, 2014, 4:18 pm
THE Police Service has issued an update on the search for members of a missing family in the forest surrounding the village of Brasso Seco deep in the Northern Range. The police disclosed that they want to speak with a man, described a s a person of interest, with the alias "Pappi". The following is the statement -
The search for missing persons: Irma Rampersad- 49 years, Felicia Gonzales-17 years, Jennelle Gonzales – 19 years, Shania Amoruso- 1 year and Felix Martinez 51 years is continuing. It is now 13 days since the family has been missing and a Hot-line has been established for persons with information on the missing family.
Hot-line – 708-9356
A search party comprising officers from the Blanchisseuse Police, North Eastern Division Task Force, Guard and Emergency Branch, Inter-Agency Task Force, TTPS Air Support Unit, Canine Unit, Homicide Bureau and Trinidad and Tobago Defense Force under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police Harold Phillip, Snr. Supt Radcliff Boxhill, Supt Trim, Insp Ramsook and other officers. The Anti-Kidnapping Unit was also deployed together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry department. Initial searches were conducted at Health institutions and relatives and close associates were interviewed. The home of the missing persons was also processed by Crime Scene personnel.
A command post was set up at the Brasso Seco Community Centre. Joint search groups were deployed to check places of interest, trails and forested areas. On Thursday 30th October, 2014, the search party came upon a burning wooden structure about 2 kilometres along a track in the Brasso Seco forest close to the home of the missing family. The Crime Scene investigators along with Officers of the Fire Prevention Unit were called in, checks were made of the debris, however nothing of evidential value was found.
On Sunday 2nd November, 2014, four persons were arrested and were interviewed with respect to the missing family. One of them, Lance Hill of Jump Street, Demerara Road, Arima was charged for possession of Marijuana, appeared before the Arima Magistrate Court on Wednesday 5th November, 2014, plead guilty and was fined $6000.00 and given two weeks to pay the fine. The other three were subsequently released.
On Saturday 8th November, 2014 around 10:30 am the joint search team observed an object about one hundred feet down a precipice in the vicinity of the burnt out structure. Further checks revealed what appeared to be the remains of an adult person and that of a young child wrapped in a black and red sleeping bag. The DMO Dr. Ramroop, visited the scene and ordered that the remains be removed to Forensic Science Centre for a post-mortem to be conducted. Additionally, members of the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services Search and Rescue Unit and the National Operations Centre are also assisting in the exercise. Several persons were interviewed and statements were recorded.
Three of those persons who were previously arrested and released, were re-arrested and are now in Police custody.
The Victim and Witness Support Unit will be providing counseling to family members of the missing family. The Homicide Bureau of Investigations has now taken the lead in this investigation.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police service has deemed Azmon Alexander alias Pappi and Apalon of Bye-Pass Road, Arima a person of interest and efforts are being made to have him arrested.
Search efforts are continuing.