Woman And Her 4 Kids Found With Throat Slashed in Clarendon

Details: Jun 21; Hits: 2027

A Clarendon mother and her four children have been found dead in the community of New Road near Chapelton. Their throats were slashed, the Clarendon police say.

A huge crowd has gathered at the scene. The woman has been identified as Kemisha Wright of Cocoa Piece.

Her four children — three girls and a toddler boy — are Kimana Smith, 15; Shemari Smith, 10; Kafana Smith, 5; and little Kishaun Henry, a 23-month-old boy.

The police have also identified a relative who is said to be the cousin of the deceased as a person of interest in the matter.

He is 23-year-old Rushane Barnett, otherwise called ‘Jett’ or ‘Nick’, who they say frequents Cocoa Piece in Clarendon, Wilson Run in Trelawny, and Papine in St Andrew.

The Jamaican Government has condemned the gruesome killing of the 34-year-old woman and her four children at their home in Clarendon on Tuesday morning.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang released the identities of the deceased in a statement a short while ago.

Chang described the attack as "an act of savagery and brutality of unequal proportions". "These were young promising children with their entire lives ahead of them. Ms Wright was a hardworking and honest young woman who was making a life for herself and her children.

This barbarity is deplorable," Chang said. "It reflects the epidemic of interpersonal violence that permeates sections of our society.

Such utter evil and horror reinforce the need for us to continue to pursue a holistic approach to this disease of inter-personal violence in our society," Chang added. Residents gather near the crime scene in Clarendon on Tuesday.

Chang also said state agencies, including CPFSA, have been deployed to provide support. "We urge anyone with information to come forward and assist in the investigation," Chang said.

A similar appeal also came from the police on Tuesday as they urged Rushane Barnett to turn himself in to the police immediately.

Police sources are indicating the man identified as a person of interest in the killing a woman and her four children was suspected to be involved in lottery scamming.

It’s understood he was accused of unlawful wounding relating to the stabbing his father.