Cops mum on latest clue

| 08/08/2011

(CNS): The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service remained deliberately tight-lipped Monday over something which turned up this weekend during the investigation into the disappearance of Kerran (Kerry-Ann) Baker. Senior police officers told the press at the noon briefing that on Sunday during a police and volunteer search officers discovered “material which is now being assessed” to see if it is connected with the missing woman. DS Marlon Bodden stated that police were deliberately limiting their comments on the finding in order to ensure they did not jeopardise what may eventually become a criminal investigation.

Police did not say that the discovery was definitely connected to Kerran nor did they give any details on what had been found or where and simply said it was something that was discovered by police officers on Sunday during one of the numerous searches of different locations.

“We need to protect the investigation,” Chief Superintendent John Jones said as he explained that while everyone continued to hope that Kerran would be found alive, they had to consider the possibility that this would become a criminal investigation, and as a result potential evidence had to be closely guarded.

Despite this mysterious discovery, police said they still had no real clue as to the whereabouts of Kerran, who has now been missing for eight days. They confirmed that they were still pursuing numerous diverse lines of enquiry, many of which were far from exhausted. The officers also said that many hours of CCTV tape was still being reviewed in the hope it could still reveal images of Kerran or her car somewhere after 7pm on Saturday 30 July, the last sighting of her at Foster’s Supermarket near the airport. 

Renewing their appeal again for help from the community, DS Bodden said some individuals had told police that they had information but were reluctant to reveal it because they were afraid. Bodden emphasised that they would fuel that fear if they kept what they knew to themselves when it may assist the investigation and lead the police to Kerran. Bodden noted that it was a significant concern that people would withhold information but there was no way for the police to compel people to talk.

“It is worrying to us that friends of Kerry-Ann express their concern about her disappearance but won’t tell us what they know,” the senior officer said as he pleaded again for people to come forward, if not to the police then someone else.

However, the officers paid tribute to the hundreds of volunteers that assisted with the searches at the weekend when areas as diverse as the Papagallos area of West Bay, the Esterly Tibbetts Highway, Shamrock Road and Admiralty Landing were all searched. Bodden said the diverse locations reflected the fact that the police still had no real or genuine clues or specific information that was pointing to any one single line of enquiry.

“It is like looking for a needle in a haystack,” CS Jones added as he explained that the police were searching each and every place where there was the slightest probability that Kerran may have been there. Jones also revealed that the sightings of Kerran’s car in Midway Close in Lower Valley had not yet been corroborated and there was no further evidence that she was ever at that location.

The police also stated that they were still waiting for the results of the forensic work on a substance which was found not far from where Kerran’s white Honda Civic was discovered on Monday 1 August at Pedro St James. Despite asking for the lab to prioritise the work, the two police officers said that the smears were very small and the scientific process to determine in the first instance if the swabs were blood, if so was this human blood and then whose blood it was, took time but they were hopeful of a result as soon as possible. “It is not always as easy as it first sounds,” Bodden said. “However, we are putting pressure on the lab.”

Anyone that has any information at all about Kerran (Kerry-Ann) Baker is asked to call the crime hotline 949 7777, Kerran’s father Wilmot Anthony 321 4271 or Crimestoppers 800 TIPS (8477).

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  1. Anonymous says:

    How is it that this is not already a criminal investigation?  Car parked in secluded area, keys thrown into the bush, purse at home in the kitchen, cell phone silent for days….

    • Anonymous says:

      The police dont know how to hold a proper investigation. If they would stop contaminating the scene and let the forensic team search, take finger prints and hair samples. I am sure they would find something but it seems to me there is no proper investigator on island. No one that can analyze the scene and even check to see if there was a second car involved. They are expecting the public to assist them. Come on get it together, Bring in the dogs search her house and car for any thing that would look strange.  

  2. Anonymous says:

    Nobody wants to be "a rat". This is no trivial matter. When it comes to these shootings and murders we cant expect the police to solve these crimes without being given the information that members of the public might have. Maybe we wouldnt call the police if somebody was having a little spliff or parked illegaly, but c mon folks. Thisis taking people off the street that could be a threat to the entire community. dothe right thing. Make that call and let them know the information you have.

  3. Anonymous says:

    Just a heads up

    Thebperson that committed this crime can very easily be on one of those search parties.

  4. Anonymous says:

    There must be some crazy person or people out there for people to wit old information in a situation like this. That sounds like some intense fear.

  5. Anymous says:

    I agree with the policer in not disclosing important evidence before they can make sure it is definately linked to Kerrann, and I do hope that what ever evidence they have is kept under lock and key with few people knowing about it.  Because if it happens that this turns into a criminal investigation we do not want another  fumble loss case by the police.

    Also I would like to say bring in all suspects again for questioning.  I f you have to bring them in every day, do just that, because sure enough someone has the link to the broken chain.  However I do feel the police is closing in thr gap, sowho ever you are, trust me there is just a matter of time, so  I would suggest that those who know something, better hurry and get to the police before they get to you.

  6. Anonymous says:

    CNS,

    Let polica know! Someone is logging in to her facbook account. Before she and I had 9 matual friends and that number has increased!

    • Anonymous says:

      Have you been accepting friend requests? Or pehaps she had sent friend requests that people delayed accepting and now that she’s missing they want to be nosey and accept it so they can snoop on her profile…
      Good note, but there could be at least 2 other possibilities for the increase in your mutual friends.

  7. Anonymous says:

    Perhaps someone saw that car being driven out to Pedro St James or a 2nd vehicle that may have been there.

  8. Anonymous says:

    If persons have come forward and know something and are afraid then they should be charged with aiding and with holding evidence.

  9. Anonymous says:

    "some individuals had told police that they had information but were reluctant to reveal it because they were afraid". 

    Well that says it all really doesn't it.  Someone has obviously harmed her or these cowards would say what they knew.

     

     

  10. Anonymous says:

    Let's hope the POLICE doesn't misplace/loose any evidence found in this case.

     

    Someone knows Something!!!

  11. Dred says:

    They need to pull some of those "so call friends" in for deep and personal questioning. These people know a hell of a lot more than they are spilling and there is a reason why and that reason needs to be explored fully and completely because there is a high chance that it has something to do with it and might lead the police to her.

    • Anonymous says:

      'So called friends' is right.  Step up, be a real friend and a decent human and tell what you know.

      • Anonymous says:

        Right, when is this ''being afraid to speak up''  ever going to stop?

        Nothing will improve or change on this island until EVERYONE  steps up and reveals

        what they know on all these things that happen….Why cant people realize this?

        On an island this small people seem to know everyones business.

        The hoods cannot get back at every single person that comes forward with info

        if the whole population will step up and come clean.

    • Anonymous says:

      THEY NEED TO COME CLEAN AND JUST TELL WHERE MY FRIEND IS, IF YOU DONT LIKE HER JUST PLEASE LET US FIND HER SO SHE CAN COME BACK TO JAMICA YOU WONT EVEN HAVE TO SEE HER AGAIN PLEASE PEOPLE IF YOU ARE READING THIS PLEASE PLEASE HAVE A HEART TELL WHERE MY FRIEND IS…………

      • Anonymous says:

        Her friends here appear to have ALL the details RCIP needs.

         

        Perhaps asking them to speak UP with what they know is a good idea!

      • Anonymous says:

        18:06 did yoiu thought of posting these questions in Jamaica.  "Well!!"

    • Anonymous says:

      Her sister made a very important statement according tothe Jamaica Gleaners.  The part that caught my attention was " perhaps he is teaching her a lesson"  Who else better to know you than your own sister. We need to  stop generalizing these aductions and stop making Cayman looks like a place where women  can't  stay.

       

       

       

    • Anonymous says:

      I think if people had more faith in the police service and their ability to keep their sources anonymous then they would be more forthcoming with information. It is unfortunate that people will withold information on this basis, but it is done with just cause.

      • Not So Anonymous says:

        This is not about that at all.

        We will have to wait to see if the facts really do come out or if this crime remains unsolved like so many others. XXXXX

        We have so many anonymous avenues for giving the police the information they need to do their jobs without revealing ones identity. It is almost silly to stupid to believe that you can not tell them what they need to know to solve this without giving them the info. I can think of a few ways I could relay info to them without revealing who I am.

        Saying that this is not about that at all. The problem is to give them what they need to know will reveal secrets that can become criminal in of themselves.

        XXXXX

        Her precious friends or shoudl I say SO CALLED FRIENDS. It's not about being afraid of the killer it about being afraid of legal actions.

         

    • Anonymous says:

      Fear for their safety is the reason . Thats what

      • Dred says:

        I believe it's a whole lot more than that. If and when the facts come out you will see what I am saying.