Murdered teen wanted to get baptised

Tavaughn 'Jaheim' Patterson, whose body was found in Danks Savoy, Summerfield, Clarendon, on Monday had reportedly given his life to God and was eager to get baptised.

Elaine Thompson, a prayer intercessor at Equator Faith Mission Church of God in Blackwoods, Thompson Town, also in Clarendon, said Tavaughn, 15, gave his life to the Lord last Tuesday -- two days before he went missing. She told THE STAR that his friend took him to church where he attended the second of a three-day children's fasting service.

"He said his friend invited him and I said that is so beautiful as children don't gravitate to fasting and he was really happy to come," she shared. She encouraged Tavaughn to go to the altar and pray which he did. She said that Tavaughn seemed absorbed during the service and responded immediately to the altar call.

"Jaheim had his hand up first and we were really proud of him. After church we talked with him and told him to return on Wednesday," she said. "He asked a question that took me by surprise. He asked, 'Miss when is baptism?' And he said he wanted to be baptised. He promised to visit on Sunday." But the teen did not make it.

His mother, Sherika Smith, was a picture of grief. Tavaughn was last seen at his home in Blackwoods, last Thursday morning. Reports from the Chapelton police are that about 9:20 a.m., a farmer was on his way home from his farm when he stumbled upon the teen's body near a river. Lawmen reported that the body had several chop wounds.

Describing him as a humble, easy-going person, Smith said Tavaughn never embraced violence. In between tears, Smith said that while she was doing business in May Pen, her best friend called her and said that a body had been found that could possibly be Tavaughn.

"The face part looked like Jaheim. I asked to look at his hair. He had a scar he got when he was a baby. The scar could still be seen [so] I knew for sure it was him," she related.

The grieving mother said that Tavaughn was interested in the cadet corps, wanted to join the army and also had plans of operating his own business.