Heartbreaking mystery - Residents search for answers after pregnant teen is murdered

Could the tarpaulin that was used to shelter dogs and their puppies be the same one that wrapped the body of pregnant 16-year-old Jaydene Gayle? Shocked residents along Sligo Road, off Mountain View Avenue, St Andrew, seem to think so.

Gayle's body was discovered dumped along a main road in Devon Pen, St Mary, around 4 p.m. on Sunday. It was found wrapped in a tarpaulin.

The police, acting swiftly, have detained her boyfriend as a person of interest in her death. Residents of Sligo Road are stunned.

Acting superintendent of police for the St Mary division, Anthony Wallace, said the police took Gayle's 39-year-old boyfriend in for questioning.

One resident who claimed to be familiar with the yard in which Gayle and her boyfriend had lived found it peculiar that the tarpaulin that was used to shelter the dogs was missing.

"Bwoy, I don't know what happen," the shaken resident said.

Devon Pen is located about 25 miles or just over one hour, via car, from Mountain View Avenue. One resident of Sligo Road reported seeing Gayle late Saturday night when she went to a shop to purchase a tomato and a Scotch bonnet pepper.

"She then sit down and a talk wid we fi long, then she say she gonna go down and cook then bathe. Mi frighten when mi see har picture up say a she dem find dead. Big belly she have too enuh," the resident said.

A few other women stated that the entire community was shocked that the deceased girl was a minor adding that while she had a petite body type, her entire demeanour was that of an adult. They also stated that they have never seen her attending school but shared that she was employed as a bartender.

"Is long time she live here with him... More than three years, but we never know she under-age or anything because one a the time she all a work at a bar. I don't know where her parents come from because we think she a big enough girl," one resident said.

As the police continue their investigation into the pregnant teen's murder, residents are hoping that her killer will be severely punished by the justice system.

"All mi know the person who kill har should not go prison go eat my tax dollar," a resident said.

"Who do it must dead!"

"Poor little girl dead in the same clothes everybody see har in, which means say a shortly after we see har she dead. Anyone who kill har must deal with differently. How yuh fi kill a pregnant woman?"