inDrive says UTech student Anisa Dilworth has not used its service since 2024

Ride-hailing company inDrive has expressed sadness at the disappearance of university student Anisa Dilworth but says there is no record of her using its service recently.

Dilworth, 20, a student of the University of Technology, Jamaica, was reported missing on May 7.

She was reportedly last seen on May 6.

An inDrive operator was taken into custody on May 10 and remains locked up without charge as he continues to be questioned by investigators in relation to Dilworth’s disappearance.

In a statement, inDrive said that after reports regarding Dilworth's disappearance surfaced in the media and on social media platforms, it launched a thorough internal review.

"Since the initial reports lacked sufficient details, we have conducted our own verification to identify the driver involved. As a result, we have determined both the driver and passenger are registered on inDrive platform,” inDrive said.

“The passenger's last ride was in 2024, and the driver’s account was created afterward, confirming that [Anisa] Dilworth could not have booked him for a ride,” inDrive continued.

The company said that although the driver’s profile shows no unusual activity, it has temporarily suspended him pending a review.

The internationally-operated ride-sharing company said, “we found no record indicating that this incident occurred during a trip arranged through inDrive. Determining the facts remains our primary focus, and our review is ongoing.”

It said it has been in contact with the police to offer full assistance, including providing a legal request if needed.

“We extend our deepest support to Anisa Dilworth’s family and remain committed to ensuring safety on our platform with the most robust vetting process in Jamaica’s ride-hailing market and a comprehensive suite of safety features,” inDrive said.

On Saturday, a body believed to be that of Dilworth was reportedly found in Portmore, St Catherine.

Police reports are that about 11:30 a.m. they were alerted to the discovery of human skeletal remains on a beach, and went to investigate

While the police are waiting for results from forensic analysis for formal identification, the investigators believe the remains belong to Anisa based on evidence found at the scene.

An investigation into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance is ongoing as detectives pursue several leads, the police said.

On Tuesday, the police noted that the disappearance of a loved one is a deeply distressing experience.

In a post on social media platform X, the police said in such difficult times, knowing the correct procedure for reporting a missing person to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) is essential.

The JCF said every moment counts and the police should be contacted immediately.

“There is a common misconception that you must wait 24 hours before filing a missing person report. This is not accurate information. If a person is missing, you should report it to the police immediately. Prompt reporting is crucial as it allows the JCF to begin their investigation and search efforts without delay, increasing the chances of locating the individual safely,” the JCF said.

- Andre Williams

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