…….”Another young person violently taken away”
By FRANCIS JOSEPH
Mercedes Cabrera, 12, who was reported missing on Saturday, has been found dead.
The body of Mercedes, who lived at Los Iros, Erin, was discovered in a forested area by a villager in Carapal, Erin, on Sunday morning, The news of the discovery was made by the Hunters Search and Rescue Team.
According to reports, shortly before midday on Saturday, the child’s grandfather placed her in a vehicle at Lorensette North Trace, Rancho Quemado, to take her to her home at Los Iros Road, Erin.
She never arrived home. A report was immediately made to the Police and searches began. They involved teams from the TTPS including the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Homicide Bureau as well as the Hunters Search and Rescue Team.
Mercedes was a student of the St. Francis Erin RC Primary School. Investigators are awaiting a medical report to determine how Mercedes died. But preliminary investigations are pointing to a taxi driver as a possible suspect.
The death of Mercedes is the latest in a number of children who died tragically in 2026.
* On May 7, Akini Kafi, aged two, along with his father Akil Kafi and a friend, Anthony “Monster” Wilson, were gunned down by gunmen at Serraneau Road, Belmont. No one has been arrested.
* On April 19, J’Layna Armstrong, aged eight, was killed in a drive-by shooting on the Lady Young Road, Morvant, which also claimed the lives of Obataiye Latiff, 23, of Don Miguel Road, San Juan; Chelsea Edwards, of Belle Eau Road, Belmont, and Asim Armstrong, of Mc Shine Road, Belmont.
No one has been arrested.* On May 11,Angelo Tobias, aged two, of Cambridge Trace, Goodwood, Tobago, was reported missing. Searches were conducted throughout the island including areas around his home. Seven persons were detained for questioning. Although Angelo’s body was not found, his stepfather, Shannon Miller, 24, was eventually charged with murder and remains in prison.
On March 31, Jayden Sutton, aged 11 months and his father Joseph Sutton, were killed when a gunman opened fire in their bedroom at Dundonald Hill, St James. No one has been arrested. Over the past ten years, at least 75 children have been killed. Very few persons were charged. Many of the cases remain unsolved.
