photograph shows brother of the deceased, Bernard Tulloch.
A St Ann family of a mentally challenged woman, who was raped and then murdered, is denying reports that the woman was left to live in a house with no doors and windows.
They are also denying claims that Terry Bowen was neglected. Those claims they said were made in reports on television.
Bernard Tulloch explained that he and his wife, Melody, did their best for Terry, who was mentally challenged. Mr Tulloch said she was small in physique and behaved like a child, despite being 33-year-old.
He and his wife have been taking care of Terry since she and her mother moved to Higgin Town, from Westmoreland 14 years ago. Terry’s mother (also Tulloch’s mother) died a week after they moved to the community.
It was at that point that Terry lived at house that was being renovated. She was on the lower floor of the building that had windows and doors.
Mr Tulloch explained that several years ago, his brother also lived close by in a separate house in the yard with Terry, so that brother also assisted with her. However, since that brother passed away, Mr Tulloch explained that he had to assume responsibility for Terry.
He is adamant that even if his sister had lived under a tree no one had the right to rape and murder her.
“Nuff people trying to put the blame on me and my wife. My wife was just helping. She was not related to her. When Terry (Bowen) came up here (to Higgin Town), she was 19-year-old. She was now 33. So I could have turned my back on her just like the others. But it is just the goodness of my heart why I took her up as my responsibility to take care of her,” Mr Tulloch pointed out.
STILL TRYING TO UNDERSTAND
Mr Tulloch is still trying to understand how reports, elsewhere in the media, had indicated that his sister was found in a house without doors or windows.
“I had to give a report and in that report it states that the downstairs (where Terry Bowen was living), had two windows, one to the east and one maybe to the south. It is in the report and also that her furniture and bed was in there. I don’t know how they showed the upstairs of the house that was renovated and said that she was living in a house with no doors and windows. It was very upsetting to me,” Mr Tulloch explained.
