Dead or alive - Mom of missing social media influencer fearing the worst

As she struggled to catch her breath, Sophia Lugg, mother of missing social media influencer Donna-Lee Donaldson, said she is hoping to find her daughter whether "dead or alive".

The ailing woman, who spoke to THE STAR minutes after the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) ended its press conference on the matter, said she is imploring anyone with information to speak what they know.

"It is not fair for me to be wondering what happened to her. I would like anybody who knows anything to come forward and let me know about my daughter so I can have her dead or alive," she said between tears. As she struggles to breathe, the distraught mother says her health is failing her daily. "My stomach is weak. My whole body is crumbling," she said.

The 24-year-old Donaldson was reported missing by her mother on July 13. She was reportedly picked up from her home on Grants Crescent in Kingston two days earlier by her boyfriend, Police Constable Maitland, who took her to his apartment at Chelsea Manor in New Kingston. Maitland, who is stationed at the Constant Spring Police Station, fathers a child with a district constable, named by police as Constable Smith, of the Half-Way Tree Police Station.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey said the police have expanded Donaldson's case beyond a missing person's investigation.

"We are not taking a tunnel vision approach. We are looking at all the variables in this investigation. The JCF is committed to ensure that this investigation is done in a professional and transparent manner," he said. Lugg, after learning that her daughter's case has now been expanded says she is keeping her fingers crossed that Donaldson is alive.

"Jesus Christ, I would want to believe that my child is alive but it is a 50/50, because if she in fact is alive, she is in deep trouble. If she was not, she would have accessed to call somebody which would be me the first person," she said.

During the press conference, Bailey said he is satisfied that the protocols of a missing person case were observed to the letter. He stated that this included a case review by the St Andrew Central Police Headquarters and lines of enquires were identified. He stated that last Friday, Maitland's apartment was processed by the forensic scene of crime investigators. The security posts were reportedly checked and observations of CCTV footage opportunities were identified. Bailey added that hospitals were checked and other enquires, including speaking to prospective witnesses, were also done. The vehicles of Maitland and the district constable were also identified and processed by scenes of crime experts and a case review done. Donaldson's boyfriend reportedly gave a statement to the police but Smith declined.