THE autopsy report showed that the 14-year-old Haile Selassie student, Shereifa Saddler, was raped before she was murdered and her body dumped on a sidewalk in the tough inner-city community of Olympic Gardens in Kingston last month.

The findings of the autopsy, released yesterday, caused further anger among family members and residents of Waterhouse, who had already expressed shock and surprised at the horrific murder of one of their promising young ones.

"Right now I am feeling weaker than how I was feeling the day before," said Shereifa's mother Pamella Saddler. The distraught woman said she also hurting about the way she was informed about the autopsy results.

"No one did not contact me to tell me about this latest information; is over the radio mi stay a mi home and hear the news," said Saddler.

Grief was etched on the face of the mother of five as she stood at her gate where several black flags were placed. "Right now, I am just trying to keep strong," said Saddler.

Despite the grief, she said that she has been busy carrying out final preparations to host a vigil for her daughter, eighth grade student of the Haile Selassie High School in Kingston. Shereifa Saddler was found dead along Lothian Avenue, off Olympic Way, on January 30.

She reportedly left home about 6:00 am for school but did not make it. Residents of Lothian Avenue reported that a man, who drove a silver motor car, was seen placing an item wrapped in a sheet on the road. They said that they became suspicious, and upon inspection, discovered the teenager's body.

Detectives, who said the girl was strangled with a necktie, have been investigating a report that she was dragged into the vehicle while waiting for a bus on Olympic Way.

"Right now, a true you no know enuh bossie; we vex over the incident...," said a male Waterhouse resident, who called on the police to intensify their search for person(s) responsible for the gruesome attack and murder of the teen.

Police from St Andrew South Police Division said they were following several leads in the case, but declined to give any further information.

Shereifa will be buried on Saturday, February 23, following a funeral service at the New Testament Church of God, 65 Waltham Park Road in Kingston.