Artiste missing in Alaska found

MonCherie, the dancehall artiste who had gone missing in Anchorage, Alaska, USA, has been found, and her best friend is dismissing suggestions that the disappearance was a publicity stunt.

Arisa 'Kisha' Alexander, who has been updating MonCherie's Instagram page, confirmed to THE WEEKEND STAR that the deejay was found on Monday in an abandoned house.

"Her mother sent me a text saying that she had been found, and then her boyfriend called me," Kisha explained.

She added that she spoke briefly to MonCherie, whose real name is Cherie Stoute, on Monday, but there has been no communications since, because she is still in the hospital being checked out thoroughly and is still being questioned by the police.

"I asked her if she was all right and she said yes, and she also confirmed that she ate. I told her to give me a call when she is ready. It's also on the police website that she has been found," Kisha stated.

On November 19, the Anchorage police in Alaska had published a missing person bulletin, along with pictures of the artiste, on their website. The entry was subsequently updated on Monday, November 25, to say: "Cherie Stoute has been located and is safe."

NOT A PUBLICITY STUNT

Kisha acknowledged that she has seen the comments about MonCherie's disappearance being a publicity stunt, but stated that she has not given them life.

"I was living through the reality. The reality of hearing your phone ring and not wanting to answer just in case it's the type of news you don't want to hear. It would be disgusting for anybody to stoop so low to do something like this for attention. If you are talented you don't have to pull stunts. Cherie doesn't need to do that. When she gets to a place in her healing, she will come forward and talk to the people and let them know all that she went through," Kisha said.

MonCherie, who was born in St Lucia to a Jamaican parent, has done collaborations with Vybz Kartel, and has been featured in local newspapers.

Among her songs are No Santa, Billy Billy Boom Boom, What I Want, Bay Bay, Gates of Heaven and Can't Say No, which was featured on Kartel's King of the Dancehall album.