Cops pray for kidnap victim
By Anna-Lisa Paul Monday, November 7 2011
Police officers began their search for kidnap victim Christine Williams with a prayer before setting off from the Tunapuna Police Station into the foothills of the Northern Range at noon yesterday.
Hours later, the search had to be called off when an officer from the Inter Agency Task Force developed a leg cramp and had to be airlifted to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex in Mt Hope for treatment.
Senior officials said the officer was treated and discharged and the search for Williams will resume this morning.
Williams, a mother of two girls, Iyoka, five, and Sapphire, three, was taken from her home at First Trace, Maingot Road, Tunapuna at about 8.45 am on Saturday.
Williams, who is unemployed, was dragged from her home and beaten with a gun by the 24-year- old suspect before he disappeared with her in the forest.
The suspect also lives at First Trace, Maingot Road, Tunapuna.
It is reported that Williams was taken into a forested area located off St Michael’s Road, Tunapuna where the suspect is believed to have a marijuana plantation.
Although several searches were carried out on Saturday, officers were not successful in locating either Williams or her kidnapper.
The search resumed at about midday yesterday and ended at about 4 pm, when an officer suffered a severe cramp.
More than 40 officers from the North Eastern Division Task Force, the Tunapuna CID, the Anti- Kidnapping Squad, the Special Anti-Crime Unit, the Inter Agency Task Force, the Canine Unit and the National Security Operations Centre took part in the exercise.
Praying for Williams’s safe return yesterday before they set off on the four-hour exercise, officers were briefed at the Tunapuna Police Station and warned that the suspect was armed and dangerous.
Newsday understands the suspect had been previously charged with shooting a police officer who was on patrol along First Trace, Maingot Road, Tunapuna back in 2007.
Among the areas searched yesterday were First Trace, Maingot Road, Tunapuna, St Michael’s Road, Tunapuna and St John’s Road, St Augustine.
An officer said residents in these areas “were cooperative and alert and promised to contact us if they hear anything.”
However, the police vowed to increase patrols last night as they believed the suspect would attempt to obtain food and water “under the cover of darkness.”
When Newsday visited the area yesterday, residents were reluctant to talk.
Wiping tears from her eyes, Williams’s mother Beulah John said while she was not at home when her daughter was taken, she was informed by witnesses to the abduction that Williams had been fighting and screaming for help.
John said the suspect “put the gun to her head and forced her to go with him.”
Pointing to Williams’s two daughters who were playing, unaware of the fate that had befallen their mother, John said, “I am hoping she is alive. I don’t care about what happens to him (suspect). I just want the police to bring back my child safe. She has two children and I don’t know how I will cope.”
Worried that her daughter might be starved of food and water, John wept as she revealed Williams and the suspect ended a relationship several years ago.
“But he (suspect) kept harassing her and although she reported him to the police and had several restraining orders against him, he always kept coming for her,” John said.
John said most of the villagers knew of the stormy relationship between Williams and the suspect. She claimed the suspect was even beaten by angry villagers, hoping he would be cowered into leaving Williams alone.
Looking skyward, John said, “I am praying to the good Lord to bring my daughter back and I am hoping she comes back safe.”
Senior officials from the North Eastern Division assured the search for Williams will resume this morning and it is expected that more officers will join the rescue teams.
Senior officials said the officer was treated and discharged and the search for Williams will resume this morning.
Williams, a mother of two girls, Iyoka, five, and Sapphire, three, was taken from her home at First Trace, Maingot Road, Tunapuna at about 8.45 am on Saturday.
Williams, who is unemployed, was dragged from her home and beaten with a gun by the 24-year- old suspect before he disappeared with her in the forest.
The suspect also lives at First Trace, Maingot Road, Tunapuna.
It is reported that Williams was taken into a forested area located off St Michael’s Road, Tunapuna where the suspect is believed to have a marijuana plantation.
Although several searches were carried out on Saturday, officers were not successful in locating either Williams or her kidnapper.
The search resumed at about midday yesterday and ended at about 4 pm, when an officer suffered a severe cramp.
More than 40 officers from the North Eastern Division Task Force, the Tunapuna CID, the Anti- Kidnapping Squad, the Special Anti-Crime Unit, the Inter Agency Task Force, the Canine Unit and the National Security Operations Centre took part in the exercise.
Praying for Williams’s safe return yesterday before they set off on the four-hour exercise, officers were briefed at the Tunapuna Police Station and warned that the suspect was armed and dangerous.
Newsday understands the suspect had been previously charged with shooting a police officer who was on patrol along First Trace, Maingot Road, Tunapuna back in 2007.
Among the areas searched yesterday were First Trace, Maingot Road, Tunapuna, St Michael’s Road, Tunapuna and St John’s Road, St Augustine.
An officer said residents in these areas “were cooperative and alert and promised to contact us if they hear anything.”
However, the police vowed to increase patrols last night as they believed the suspect would attempt to obtain food and water “under the cover of darkness.”
When Newsday visited the area yesterday, residents were reluctant to talk.
Wiping tears from her eyes, Williams’s mother Beulah John said while she was not at home when her daughter was taken, she was informed by witnesses to the abduction that Williams had been fighting and screaming for help.
John said the suspect “put the gun to her head and forced her to go with him.”
Pointing to Williams’s two daughters who were playing, unaware of the fate that had befallen their mother, John said, “I am hoping she is alive. I don’t care about what happens to him (suspect). I just want the police to bring back my child safe. She has two children and I don’t know how I will cope.”
Worried that her daughter might be starved of food and water, John wept as she revealed Williams and the suspect ended a relationship several years ago.
“But he (suspect) kept harassing her and although she reported him to the police and had several restraining orders against him, he always kept coming for her,” John said.
John said most of the villagers knew of the stormy relationship between Williams and the suspect. She claimed the suspect was even beaten by angry villagers, hoping he would be cowered into leaving Williams alone.
Looking skyward, John said, “I am praying to the good Lord to bring my daughter back and I am hoping she comes back safe.”
Senior officials from the North Eastern Division assured the search for Williams will resume this morning and it is expected that more officers will join the rescue teams.
Source: http://www.newsday.co.tt/crime_and_court/0,150187.html
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