Body of a female found in Dauphine-Welcome area

The identity of the partially decomposed body discovered in the Dauphine-Welcome area on Sunday, October 30, is yet to be determined.{{more}}

A source close to the investigation believes that the body may not be that of Shanika Small or even that of another young female, who has been missing from her home, for about six weeks now.

The source said that until a post mortem and other forensic tests are conducted, it would be impossible to determine among other things, the identity of the person, the cause of death and the time of death.

The corpse was discovered by Police around 8:30 Sunday morning, on property owned by local businessman Ken Minors, a short distance from the Fenton Mountain.

SEARCHLIGHT understands that the body was discovered after an employee of Minors and a nearby resident reported a foul stench coming from the area.

The body was covered with coconut branches in a remote location of the property.

A freshly dug grave was also discovered a few yards from where the body was found, Police told SEARCHLIGHT.

According to a reliable source, the badly decomposed human remains were clothed in both “a top and bottom”.

Up to press time on Monday, October 31, one day after the discovery, Police confirmed that while the remains are those of a female, a positive identification was yet to be made.

Superintendant Carlos Sampson of the Calliaqua Police Station refuted claims that had been circulating that the remains were those of 20-year-old Small who has been missing since Friday, October 21.

Sheryl Small, mother of Shanika, when contacted by SEARCHLIGHT on Monday, confirmed that the badly decomposed state of the body made it difficult to make a positive identification.

She said that she was called to try to identify the remains, but that she “couldn’t tell anything, as it (the body) was so badly decomposed.”

Sheryl Small, however, declined to comment further on the most recent development.

“Right now we can’t say anything, because we don’t know,” she said.

The disappearance of Small, who was last seen on Friday, October 21st, has received national attention, especially since information of her being missing has been widely disseminated on social media, such as Facebook and by Blackberry Messenger.

A search conducted by close friends of Shanika on Tuesday, October 24 only turned up two pairs of shoes on a parcel of land close to the Dauphine apartment where Shanika resides.

Investigations are ongoing. (DD/JJ)