By Monique Washington
The count for missing persons has increased with the latest being 22-year-old Devon ‘Gunny’ Jarvis of St. Kitts who was reported missing March 12.
Javis’ disappearance comes soon after the body of 17-year-old Tyrique Duncan was found in Hermitage Estate in St. Kitts. The body was riddled with bullets. It was discovered only a matter of weeks after Devon Pervcival-Payne, who was also reported missing, was discovered in the Ogees area in St.Kitts with apparent gunshot wounds.
According to Grell Brown, Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force public relations officer, the family saw Jarvis on Feb. 28 when he visited a friend in Nevis. Brown explained that because Jarvis disappeared on Feb. 28 and the family did not report it until March 12, a description about the type of clothes he was wearing before he disappeared is unavailable.
Between 2014 and 2008, eight young men have disappeared and not been found. The following youth are still missing: Karime “Kenny” Douglas missing since 2014; Kevaugh Pemberton, Leslie “One Pack” Jeffers and Dylon Clarke, missing since 2012; Andrew Samuel Jr., missing since 2009; Duran ‘big head” Grant, missing since 2009 and Kasim “Dula” Maynard and Keita Williams, missing since 2008.
The mother of Dylon, Evette Clarke told The Observer on Wednesday that she does not see these types of crimes ceasing soon.
Clarke said, as a mother of a missing child she has few words of hope or encouragement to other mothers going through the same thing.
“I am a mother of a son that went missing and to be honest I don’t even know what I would tell another mother going through the same thing except maybe, I’m sorry to hear,” she said.
The almost four-year ordeal has taken its toll on the distraught mother. Dylon Clarke’s April 2012 disappearance sparked national news. The 17-year-old left home April 28 at around 6 p.m. and vanished. Cadaver dogs were brought in from the U.S. Virgin Islands assist the Nevis Police in their search. The dogs identified the location of a body in Cane Garden, but the police never found other evidence and could not find a body. The area identified by the dog was close to where the police indicate the number 1 suspect lives. No arrests have been made.
Clarke is frustrated and has seen no sympathy from the police.
“Every night I try to sleep, but I lay awake, thinking about my son.” Miss Clarkes said. “I haven’t heard anything from them for years. It is like they have forgotten about it. It’s like they said Dylon is gone, no more Dylon, so they just left it.”
Clarke noted when the Ian Queeley was named the new Police Commissioner she expected him to contact her and hoped the suspect would be asked more questions, but no one has contacted her.
The Observer tried to contact Deputy Commissioner Hilroy Brandy to ask if their search for the missing men is still on, or if their case has been closed, but all attempts to reach him failed.
