SPANISH TOWN, St Catherine -- Two sisters who are jointly charged with neglect of a juvenile are to re-appear in court on September 4 to explain what happened to an eight year-old mentally retarded boy who has been missing since the night of July 18.

The child in question is the son and nephew, respectively, of 30 year-old Francine Brown and her sister Carla Brown. Both from Dunbeholden District in St Catherine, the women each had their $40,000 bail extended when they appeared in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.

The court was told that about 8:30 on the night of July 18, Francine left her sister's house after reportedly receiving a telephone call from someone who needed his hair combed.

It is alleged that she left her sister's house, leaving her mentally retarded eight year-old son, Jaheel Reid, in the care of his 12 year-old cousin and her sister, Carla.

During the course of the night, the court was told, Jaheel defecated on himself and his aunt told the 12 year-old boy to put his eight year-old cousin outside.

However, later when Carla went to retrieve the young boy to have him cleaned up, she discovered that he was missing, the court was told.

An alarm was made and neighbours conducted a thorough search of the area but he has not been seen since that night. After being chided by RM Lorna Gayle during her court appearance, Carla told the court that little Jaheel had been placed outside the house to allow the room to air out.

According to the police, the child's mother went to the St Catherine South police headquarters in Portmore on July 19 and reported that he was missing. Since then, cops say, they have launched a massive manhunt for the boy in the St Catherine area.

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