Mom meeting dead ends in search for 13-y-o daughter

Despite unconfirmed sightings, a six-second voice note, and a call from a stranger saying her daughter was in police custody, 13-year-old St Hugh's High second-former Tenley Whittaker has still not been found, 10 days after she went missing.

Tenley's mother, Ifyelia Matthews, is now a nervous wreck, and with each passing day, her frustration and distress intensifies. She believes her daughter is being held against her wish, and she is pleading with whoever is responsible for her disappearance to send her home.

"Please just send home my daughter. Unnu nuh have children too? How unnu would a feel fi know say fi unnu pickney gone for over a week and deh a somebody yard and the person nah send dem home?" asked Matthews.

"Mi wah know how unnu feel fi have someone else child around unnu that don't belong to unnu. I want back my daughter, so please just send her home, or leave her somewhere where we or the police can pick her up. Right now mi stress out," added Matthews.

Tenley is of dark complexion, medium built and about 162 centimetres (5 feet 4 inches) tall. According to police reports, she was last seen leaving her Seaview Gardens home for school about 6:30 a.m. on April 15. She was wearing a royal-blue tunic, white blouse, yellow ties, black shoes and a pair of white socks.

One the morning of April 18, the day that Tenley's story was shared in THE STAR, Matthews received a phone call from someone who identified herself as a police officer. But her heart sank even further when she realised that the caller and the details were not authentic.

"The person called and say she was a police and that my daughter was found in Old Harbour in a house with stolen goods. They said she was in police custody and was on $150,000 bail. Dem say she was with another little girl. Mi did feel relieved, but afterward mi find out say nutten nuh go suh. The person who called wasn't a police, and mi daughter still missing up to this day," said Matthews.

Matthews further stated that persons have told her that they have spotted Tenley at various location across the Corporate Area. However, none of the so-called sightings appear to be credible.

"People call mi and tell mi say dem see her at Half-Way Tree, but they didn't approach her because they weren't sure. People are saying they saw her in Harbour View and other places. I don't know what to believe, as no one ever said they saw her and contacted the police," said Matthews.

Earlier this week, a relative received a voice note from an unknown number. Matthews said the voice in the message was Tenley's, and she believes that she is in danger.

"Grandma, a Bri Bri...mi alright. Mi a eat and mi a sleep and mi alright," the voice note said.

"The voice note too short, and is not she was talking anything, really.

"Mi a wonder if she deh somewhere around some people and can't really talk. My mind is all over the place now because mi a wonder if she is being held captive. I just want back my daughter," said Matthews.

When THE STAR spoke with residents of Seaview Gardens, who were familiar with the missing teen, they described her as being outspoken but well-mannered.

"She nuh strike mi as the type to run away. When she was leaving Seaview Primary, she gave a speech, and even politician stop her and shake her hand. She grow good and is not a road pickney, so something wrong. Mi nuh sleep good a night-time over it. It trouble mi spirit, and mi pray she and her mother will reunite soon," one woman said.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Tenley Whittaker is being asked to contact the nearest police station or the Seavie w Gardens police at 876 997 9372.