Tough Mother’s Day for mom of missing man

Mother's Day was not a good one for Veronica Gardener as it marked a year since her son, Leroy Page, disappeared without a trace, leaving a void in her life.

The raw memories were obvious when she visited THE STAR yesterday, as she wept throughout her interview.

"It has been rough, rough. I don't work for nine months because I wasn't concentrating. I just started working back," said Gardener. "I have had restless nights, and I cannot sleep. I can't focus. My health is not good and every minute I have to go to the doctor."

"I have a younger son here and I have to put him through counselling. His grandmother get a stroke because of this situation. It's not because Leroy is my son why I am swearing for him, but I know my child. My son doesn't even walk with a knife," said added.

Page, who was a student at The University of The West Indies, was 26 years old at the time of his disappearance. At the time, he was also working as a contractor with the rideshare app inDrive. The last time Page was seen, he was carrying out that service in the Corporate Area. His car was later found in Padmore district in Red Hills, rural St Andrew, and a missing person's report was made at the Spanish Town Police Station.

Gardener, who resides in the US, said she last spoke to her son days before he went missing.

"The last time we spoke, I was upset with him because I keep telling him that only when he needs something he calls me. I kept telling him to call me more often. However, every time he comes to the US, he would spend time with me," said Gardener.

Now, one year later, Gardener has come to the grim reality that she may never lay eyes on her son again. But she is nonetheless pleading with those responsible for his disappearance to give her closure.

"I don't think my son is alive, and based on all the crime that is going on in Jamaica, it is terrible. I want those responsible for my son's disappearance to come forward and turn themselves in because my son did not do anything to them. Even if they are criminals going around and robbing, why are you going to kill him? He didn't do anything to anyone. My son had so many plans for his life," said Gardener, as more tears flowed.

"Yuh know how much toilets I have cleaned in America to send my son to school? Sometimes I eat sardines and rice go to my bed. Yuh know how many times the snow is high outside and it's cold, and I have to get up out of my bed to work just to give my son a better life and they take him away from me?" lamented Gardener.

"It's so unfair and my son don't deserve this. Nobody's child deserves this. There are so many young people missing and we are tired of it," said Gardener.