Loved ones hoping for best, prepared for worst in Donaldson case

News emerged yesterday during a protest outside the precincts of the Constant Spring Police Station that 24-year-old Donna-lee Donaldson's mother's health is deteriorating rapidly with each passing day since the mysterious disappearance of the social media personality.

This was disclosed by Donaldson's aunt, Jermadeen Lugg, who was among relatives and friends staging a second day of protest to press for action in the case, this time at the workplace of Constable Noel Maitland.

Maitland, who is the boyfriend of Donaldson, is also under the microscope as the 24-year-old was last reportedly seen at his New Kingston apartment.

Donaldson is said to have been in a love triangle with Maitland and another cop, a district constable identified as a Ms Smith.

The protesters are calling for the two cops to be removed from front-line duties while investigations continue.

Lugg said that two months ago, she foresaw danger surrounding Donaldson, but her utterance to her sister, Sophia, was downplayed.

“I don't know if is God showing me something … To be honest, I wanted to really see her come back home to us, but the chance every day with she being missing is just a slimmer chance,” Lugg said yesterday, nine days since they last heard from Donaldson.

They are hoping for the best, but are prepared for the worst.

Lugg told The Gleaner that Maitland gave the family conflicting information surrounding his final moments with Donaldson on Monday, July 11.

“He said a taxi came for her and she leave 11 o'clock. That was also a different argument. Her father call and said he spoke to her one o'clock and Noel told the mother that he overheard her talking to her father. That mean she never leave,” Lugg said.

Her brother, who lives overseas, also reportedly spoke to her via a video call at about 4 p.m. that same day.

Since then, they have been unable to reach Donaldson, who was reported missing on July 13.

STATEMENT ISSUE

During a press conference on Monday, the police said that Maitland gave a statement on the matter.

The female district constable, with whom Maitland has a child, had reportedly refused to give a statement.

Her attorney, Oswest Senior Smith, has refuted that claim, telling the media that his client was prepared to give a statement, but requested that her lawyer be present.

Close to press time yesterday, the Independent Commission of Investigations reportedly served with a summons to appear before the commission and answer questions on August 3.

Head of the St Andrew North Police Division, Senior Superintendent Aaron Fletcher, said that Maitland is still on active duty as there exists, at the moment, no reason from him to be relieved of his duties.

No person of interest has been identified as yet although police scouring more than 20 hours of CCTV footage.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com