Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr Alwyn James has given the assurance that the 12 year old juvenile who went missing did not appear to have been in danger prior to being found in St. Thomas. Photo: VINO

RVIPF Public Relations Officer Ms Dianne Drayton assured that the police have been in direct communication with persons who had provided information that in some way led to the child being found. Photo: VINO

CoP David Morris also confirmed that it was the child’s mother, Ms. Jean Wharton Cato-Matthias, who had reported her missing. Photo: VINO

James gave this assurance yesterday January 28, 2014 at a press conference called by Commissioner of Police Mr David Morris. Morris referred to the incident as being “Critical” at the time but had passed the mantle on to James to respond to questions surrounding the matter as asked by reporters.

“What I would say that the child from all appearances the child is in good health. She was not found in any compromising position or anything,” stated Mr James.

Morris also confirmed that it was the child’s mother, Ms. Jean Wharton Cato-Matthias, who had reported her missing.

“As soon as it was reported to us we treated it as a critical incident because we recognise the age of the child, the history behind that child, and of a consequence of that investigation undertaken by our major crime investigation unit because again… it’s a major crime for us, because today’s missing child for us is tomorrow’s victim,” said CoP Morris.

DCoP James said it was members of the public’s prompt response that led the RVIPF in collaboration with other un-named agencies in the US Virgin Islands (USVI) to quickly locate where the child was. “Of course we can’t go into details in respect to the child. There were certainly issues which would have caused a child of that age to run away from home but that’s down to the social development,” stated Mr James.

He was confident that being in the care of the state the child will be given the necessary physiological and other evaluations as is needed. He also confirmed that Siriena had been reintegrated into the education system.

“She has returned back to school, that much I can say and is being reintegrated back into her class and the social development is looking at identifying a suitable home for her and addressing the other issues in respect of the family circle,” according to Mr James.

RVIPF Public Relations Officer Ms Dianne Drayton assured that they have been in direct communication with persons who had provided information that in some way led to the child being found.