KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – Citizens searching for Shanika Small, who has not been seen since Friday night, found two pairs of her shoes in a plastic bag Monday evening.
The shoes were located “in a very grassy area not too far from her home,” according to the Facebook page disseminating information about her disappearance.
However, there is still no sign of the 20-year-old Dauphine resident whose last communication was a “call 911” text message to a friend about 3 a.m. Saturday.
Police are said to be questioning someone in relation to the missing woman and the search is expected to continue on Tuesday although I Witness News was unable to verify when and where it would commence.
However, one contributor to the Facebook page Monday night urged citizens joining the search party “to dress in proper attire as the area being covered also consists of high grass and insects and unforeseen weather can also cause the area to be muddy”.
Small is described as brown in complexion, about 5 feet 11 inches tall, 125 pounds, with brown eyes and relaxed shoulder-length hair. She is also said to have a birthmark on one of her upper thighs.
Small, whose parents are both overseas live alone in an apartment in Dauphine, bordering the mountainous Fenton area.
Her friend Nyasha Holder has been leading the effort to try to locate her.
Holder, in a Facebook update late Monday night noted the contribution of citizens in the discovery of Small’s shoes.
“… this would have NEVER happened if we didn’t do a citizen search today,” she said, adding, “A lot of NEW information turned up. Thanks again to all that participated.
“I can’t wait to find Shanika,” Holder further said even as she told followers of the page that they will be “back on the trail again tomorrow” but flashlights on Monday were not enough.
“The police have more ground to cover now that the CITIZENS made all these discoveries. Goes to show we still have some heart left in our nation,” said Holder of a country that has witnessed a spate of violent crimes again females in recent months.
The search took place after being approved by police, who had earlier said that it would affect their investigation.
Small, an employee of Shepard’s Trading, was seen by members of the public at Heritage Square in Kingstown and close to Aunt Jobe’s supermarket in Arnos Vale Friday afternoon.
Her landlord saw the tenant come in around 8 p.m. Friday but a resident of the community said that Small about 7:30 p.m. Friday asked about the identity of a man who had been walking behind her.
Small, who is single, has told friends that “a particular guys is aggressively trying to get her to date him,” according to Holder.