Three people, including a religious leader implicated in the abduction of a 13-year-old student from the central parish of Clarendon last month, are to appear in court on June 16.
Sixty-year-old religious leader Byron Hunter, Donna-May Taylor, 35, and Rushea Hunter, 38, were remanded when they made their first appearance in the Home Circuit Court on Wednesday.
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Investigations revealed that the teenager was taken from her home without the knowledge or consent of her mother.
A missing person’s report was filed, and the matter was brought to the attention of detectives attached to the National Strategic Anti-Gang Division, who immediately launched an investigation.
They were led to a home in the town of Ewarton in the central parish of St Catherine on April 15, where the missing teen was found living among members of a religious group. Two other children were also seen at the premises. It was later discovered that those children were not registered for school.
According to the police, the teen was reportedly taken by the religious leader for a special upcoming event, akin to three days of darkness (a Catholic prophecy about judgment coming upon the earth and shrouding it with darkness, with the only light from blessed candles).
The accused, one of whom is her aunt, and the mastermind behind the abduction, was taken into custody and the children were removed from the home.
Hunter, the alleged leader of the religious sect, and Donna-May Taylor were both charged with abduction of a child under 16, being a member of a criminal organization, two counts of duty to secure education, and three counts of duty to report need for care and protection.
Rushea Hunter has been charged with the offences of conspiracy to abduct a child under 16, being a member of a criminal organization, two counts of duty to secure education and three counts of duty to report need for care and protection. (CMC)
