BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – A police release has informed that a human body was discovered last night (Jun. 14) in the Olivees area, and according to sources, it is that of the missing 17-year-old, Leanna Napoleon of Keys Village.
According to information reaching SKNVibes from a reliable source, the body is indeed that of Napoleon, which he saw this morning at one of the funeral homes in Basseterre.
The source claimed that the discovery was made in the Buckley’s Mountain area and the police must have been informed where it could be found, because they went to the direct burial spot.
“It is a fact guaranteed that it is her. I just came from the funeral home myself because I wanted to be certain it is her. She was not found down at Seaman’s Wharf, she was found up in Buckley’s Mountain; far up, way up. The guys are saying that they had to go over a cliff, down a cliff, come up a cliff, down a cliff, up a cliff, down a cliff.
“They started walking up the mountain after 10 and didn’t get down ’till after two; that’s how far up she was. The light that they had and everything went out, the flashlight and everything they had went out.”
He claimed that if anyone had gone up there in search of Napoleon, they would not have found her because she was already buried, and that the police had to be tipped off.
“The police had to get tip off from somebody that she was there.”
The source stated that after exhuming the body and commencing their investigation, the police notified a funeral home to have her removed from the scene.
“She was wrapped in a sheet with a cloth around her face and everything, plastic bags and all things were around her face and her panty in her mouth...She had on her shoe and they found her in her school uniform,” the source added.
Earlier this morning when news were circulating about the discovery, SKNVibes got confirmation from a member of the Police Force that the lifeless body of a female was found, but they could not have provided details.
However, when contacted for an official statement, the Police Press and Public Relations Officer categorically stated that he had no knowledge of such discovery.
Subsequently, this media house received a press release at 11:47 a.m., which reads: “The Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force is investigating the discovery of a human body in the Olivees area on Wednesday night (June 14).
“Investigations to determine the identity is ongoing.”
Leanna Napoleon, a fifth form student of Basseterre High School, was reported missing after she had written her CSEC EDPM exam at the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College on Monday, May 8, 2017.
She was reportedly last seen on Fort Street, Basseterre in the afternoon of the day in question.
Since then, members of the Police Force, Defence Force, family members, friends and public-spirited citizens had conducted extensive searches in the Buckley’s, Keys and other areas for the missing 17-year-old without success.
Following her disappearance, police had taken a number of individuals into custody for questioning, including her elder brother, but they have all since been released.
However, this publication had learnt that one individual is currently in custody assisting police with their investigation and he is said to be the schoolgirl's brother.
Meanwhile, in Parliament this afternoon, confirmation of Napoleon's death was confirmed by the Hon. Eugene Hamilton, who is the Parliamentary Representative for the area in which she lived and he has offerred condolences to members of her family.
All other Parliamentarians, including Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas, and the Hon. Konris Maynard, who broke into tears, also confirmed her death and offerred their condolences to Napoleon's family and friends.
Leanna Napoleon's death has taken to 15 the number of homicides committed in the Federation for this year; six on Nevis and nine on St. Kitts.
UPDATE: Another police release, which was received at 2:01 p.m., confirmed that the body is that of Leanna Napoleon and that one person is in custody assisting with the investigation.
Commenting on the gruesome discovery, Commissioner of Police Ian M. Queeley said: “This is not the outcome we were hoping for, our hearts go out to the family and friends of Leanna Napoleon. We hope that the family can begin the healing process and find some closure. As Commissioner, I ask the general public to be sensitive and keep the family in their thoughts and prayers.”
It also stated that the police continue to solicit the assistance of the public in this and all investigations and persons with information are encouraged to pass the information to them by calling any police station, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477(TIPS) or by using the SKN Crime Reporter App on their Smartphone.
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