Sasha-Gay Lobban
A family has been left puzzled, shocked and expressing fear for their lives after an autopsy examination failed to prove what led to the death of their loved one last month.Annotto Bay High School student and athlete, 14-year-old Trishauna Nelson was found dead in the Dry River, close to her home in Enfield, St Mary on Monday, January 26. She had left home on Sunday, January 25, to wash clothes at the Dry River near her home and did not return. An alert was made and the teen was reported missing. The following morning, her nude body was found afloat the river, with a wound to the head.Family members as well as residents in Enfield suspected that the teen was raped and then killed. However, a post mortem examination last week, Tuesday, February 3, revealed that the teen was not raped. The post mortem also revealed that Trishauna did not drown. The result, according to the pathologist’s report was inconclusive. This has put a snag into the investigations by the St Mary police.
FAMILY AFRAID TO STAY AT HOME
Her family has been left in a state of shock and questioning the circumstances surrounding Trishauna’s death. They say the results of the post mortem did not provide any closure but has since left the family fearful and puzzled by Trishauna’s death. Trishauna’s sister, Kayton Henry says the family is fearful because they think someone murdered the teen, who they say was loved by everyone in the community. “Everybody afraid to stay at the house because we feel like somebody might be watching the family. We don’t know if she was murdered and nobody in the family feels safe,” Kayton told the North Coast Times. “We nah cope with the situation at all. We can’t eat or sleep because the autopsy just made the situation worse for us,” she said.Meanwhile, Trishauna’s mother, Quinnette Bruce-Henry has not been coping with the death of her child. Trishauna is one of ten children. The reports of the autopsy have deepened her loss. “Trishauna is a bright girl and she made everybody laugh,” Kayton said told the Times. Mrs Bruce-Henry said Trishauna went to the river to wash clothes and bathe after, something that many usually do in the community. On the morning Trishauna left home to wash her uniforms for school the next day, her mother had asked her not to go. However, according to Mrs Bruce-Henry, Trishauna insisted that she wanted to wash her uniforms early for them to dry for school the next morning. The river is a walk away from the family home in Enfield. Trishauna was a part of the track and field team at the Annotto Bay High School and her dream was to become a teacher.
POLICE ALSO PUZZLED
The St Mary police say the result of the post mortem has forced them to dig deeper into their investigations. There are no leads as to how the teen died according to commanding officer for St Mary, Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay. “We have collected a lot of information but nothing points to how Trishauna ended up dead,” said Superintendent Lindsay. A toxicology examination is to be conducted on the body to determine if it contained any poisonous substance. “We are now depending on the result toxicology test to determine if she was poisoned. That is what we are waiting on but we cannot say when that test will be done,” said Superintendent Lindsay. The family says Trishauna will be laid to rest on Sunday, February 22.
