Member of Parliament for East Kingston and Port Royal, Phillip Paulwell, has broken his silence on his daughter Sarayah and her mother, Toshnya Patterson, who were confirmed murdered weeks after the disappeared in Kingston. 

The People’s National Party (PNP) politician, in a statement on Sunday (October 16), said he was devastated to know that the worst-case scenario shattered any hope his 10-month-old daughter and her mother would be found safe. 

Pauwell said ‘nothing could prepare him’ for the discoveries that unfolded last week—seemingly hinting at long-time partner Leoda Bradshaw’s alleged involvement in the disappearances and the case morphing from missing persons into a murder investigation. 

The MP remarked “that anyone could murder a mother and an innocent baby is unimaginable”. 

Paulwell, maintaining that he has been cooperative with police investigators, said he can neither comment further on the ongoing probe nor for the subsequent court proceedings. 

See statement in full: 

“The past few weeks have been difficult for me as a grappled with the abduction of my daughter and her mother.

I have prayed unceasingly for the safe return of Toshyna Patterson and my daughter Sarayah and I am heartbroken that the worst has happened. Nothing could have prepared me for the events that unfolded since last week Thursday and the alleged discoveries. That anyone could murder a mother and an innocent baby is unimaginable and my heart is heavy with sadness. 

I am praying for Toshyna’s family who I know are experiencing the unbearable grief and pain of losing their beloved daughter and granddaughter. 

As a human being, father, lawyer and legislator I am hoping that all who were involved are brought to justice and punished to the fullest extent of the law. 

I have been in constant dialogue with the police and cooperated fully with the investigation. I cannot comment on the investigations nor matters before the court but I wish to thank the police for their tireless work. 

I thank the many Jamaicans who have been generous in your prayers, you kind and thoughtful expressions of love, support, and solidarity for me and my family. 

Thank you.”

During Friday’s afternoon sitting of the Home Circuit Court in Kingston, prosecutors painted Bradshaw, a 34-year-old US Navy petty officer, as the mastermind behind a plot to murder the mother and daughter. 

Bradshaw faces two counts of conspiracy to murder, two counts of conspiracy to kidnapping, two counts of kidnapping and two counts of murder. 

She is joined by 30-year-old Roland Lloyd Balford, 29-year-old Rushane Miller, and 31-year-old Richard Brown on two counts of conspiracy to murder, two counts of conspiracy to kidnapping, and misprison of felony respectively. 

The police investigation into the disappearances of Patterson, 27, and Sarayah, sprang into action September 10, hours after the mother-daughter duo were last seen at the entrance to their Gilmour Drive home in St Andrew.

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