12 months of pain - Mother agonises over missing daughter

Last weekend was a tough one for Jerdine Dixon, and as Mother's Day approaches, her nerves are all twisted as unpleasant memories spark a painful reminder.

The past weekend marks one year since Dixon's eldest child, her only daughter Chauntai 'Ali' Samuels, went missing, leaving her longing for closure.

"Up to now I am just reliving everything that happened. Everything just playing over in my head," said Dixon, as she relives May 5, 2023, the actual date her daughter went missing.

"I am numb, and the tears come like them dry up in one place. It's like little tears can't run and last night (Sunday) my head felt different, and I had to be praying to God that nothing goes wrong with me. My head felt like it was swelling, and I have to try and keep myself calm because I am still trying to find my daughter. I just want to know what happened to her," added Dixon.

Samuels, who resided in Kintyre, St Andrew, was 22 when she disappeared. A missing person's report was made on May 8 by her mother at the Papine Police Station. Samuels is of slim build and brown complexion. She was last seen wearing a white top and pink shorts. On April 11, human remains were found off the Gordon Town Road in the vicinity of a primary school. It is reported that a resident stumbled upon the remains around 5:30 p.m. and called the police. Dixon said although she saw the remains, she is uncertain if they belong to her daughter and until a determination is made, and a result is given, she is keeping her fingers crossed that Samuels is still alive.

"It is really hard because if it is her remains that was found, I would get a negative closure, but it would still be a closure. If it is not her, it would be good, but it wouldn't be so good because I still wouldn't know what happen to my daughter. I am between a rock and a hard place all the time, because I keep wondering if she is dead, kidnapped or whatever," said a perplexed Dixon.

"One thing I know is that my daughter didn't go anywhere on her own, and anywhere she is, she is not there willingly. If that is not the case, then she is not alive and I don't know which is it," added Dixon.

This Mother's Day, Dixon said she is anticipating spending the day with her son and Samuels' daughter. She added that it would be a huge blessing if she could be miraculously reunited with her daughter.

"I am hoping that I can spend some time with her baby, and I still have my son that I need to be a mother to. God will carry me through Mother's Day. I still have my mother, who has been standing by my side, so I have to be strong, but it is hard ya man," she said.

The distraught mother is pleading with anyone who may have information about Samuels to step forward.

"All I ask is to just come forward and talk what happen to Ali. Just have a heart, because she was friends to a lot of people, and she didn't do anybody anything evil. I don't know what went down, but Jesus man!" said the frustrated Dixon.

Anyone knowing Samuels' whereabouts is being asked to contact the nearest police station.