ONE-YEAR-OLD HAD BLUNT FORCE BLOWS IN ST ANN INCIDENT
GOLDEN GROVE, St Ann; April 9, 2025
Police have charged with murder the stepfather of the one-year-old girl who died a week ago in Golden Grove, St Ann.
Charged with murder is 35-year-old farmer Adain Joseph of Golden Grove.
He has been charged with the murder of one-year-old Alayah Michaels of the same address.
The baby was reportedly left with Joseph by her mother who was in a relationship with him.
Reports from the St. Ann’s Bay Police are that on Thursday, March 27, Alayah was left in Joseph’s care and protection. On Tuesday, April 1, at about 8:30 a.m., Joseph took the child to the Moneague Health Centre saying he had left Alayah in the bath for a few minutes and when he returned the child was in the water unresponsive.
The child was then taken to St Ann’s Bay Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The police report to the North Coast Times did not give any details of the injuries to the child but reports are there were several lacerations and the child suffered a fractured skull
Police launched an investigation into Alayah’s death. A post-mortem was conducted on Thursday, April 3. Police say it revealed that Alayah died from blunt force trauma to the head.
According to the Constabulary Communications Network, Joseph subsequently turned himself in and reportedly confessed to the crime. His court date is being finalised.
Some of Joseph’s relatives dispute the claim there was a post-mortem, held only a few days after the death. They deny that he made a confession.
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