KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent – A person close to Shanika Small has identified the clothes on the significantly decomposed female body found here last week Sunday, Oct. 30, as that of the missing 20-year-old, sources tell I-Witness News.
The sources, however, say that DNA testing will still be necessary to verify whether the body is that of the Dauphine resident, who went missing on Oct. 21.
Information reaching I-Witness News further indicate that police have questioned, more than once, an individual who is believed to have had “some sort of relationship” with the missing woman.
The sources were, however, unable to say whether the individual was in police custody or if police were planning to lay an charges against that person.
Police have said that they will make a press statement when they have “enough information”.
Small’s mother was unable to say whether the body was that of her daughter, because of the extent of decomposition.
I-Witness News was unable to determine the results of a post mortem conducted last Monday.
Searchlight newspaper, citing anonymous sources, has reported that the body appears to be that of an adult. However, according to the publication, the level of decomposition suggests that it is not Small but the size may rule out the chances of it being Ikeisha Quammie, 13, of Belmont, who has been missing since Sept. 19.
Police here are also investigating a decomposed body, said to be that of Stefan Miller, 12, of Layou, found in that Central Leeward town on Friday.
A man is said to be in police custody in relation to that killing.