This is the second of a weekly series looking at how the relatives of victims of crime have been coping with their loss. The series, titled ‘Victims’, will hopefully point the state in the direction of those in need of emotional assistance and prod people with information on these heinous acts to share them with the authorities.

SEVENTY-NINE year-old Seves Clayton still cries for daughter Patricia who was murdered last June, allegedly by a man Manchester residents say is a “serial killer”.

“I still cry everyday when I consider pon it. She was my only daughter,” the frail-looking man said in a soft voice. He knows that excessive crying is not good for him since he has a heart condition and suffers from asthma, but he can’t help it.

The pain is just as palpable for Patricia’s six grieving children and her elderly mother, who has been diagnosed with high blood pressure and arthritis.

“She used to look after we and make sure we go doctor regular,” said mom Gladys, who recently fell and broke both arms.

Residents of Heartease confirmed the Claytons’ claim that Patricia was a dutiful daughter who would check up on her parents regularly, although she lived with her family in a nearby district.

“Two a we sick, and she always find time to see how we do,” Patricia’s mom continued. “She carry we dinner fi we. Now this boy (the alleged killer) just….,” the woman paused, as tears welled up in her eyes. For about 90 seconds she stared at nothing in particular.

Then, as Gladys Clayton gathered her thoughts, she continued.

“The morning when we get the call say she dead, we couldn’t make much of it. It just never feel real. All now we can’t believe it. I don’t know if we will ever get over this death,” the defeated mother said.

Psychologist Dr Aaron Dumas agreed that the Claytons will never fully get over the sudden removal of their daughter from their lives.

“Regardless of what anyone says, one who has not had the experience can never fully understand what these people suffer. They will never fully recover. They will learn to adjust, but they will never fully recover,” Dumas told the Sunday Observer.

The family has been ‘down in the dumps’ since June 1 this year when Patricia’s body was found with its throat slashed in the district of Heartease in Central Manchester. The body also had multiple stab wounds.

The 42-year-old mother had left her house at Grey Ground with a man to attend a party in a neighbouring district, but never made it. The next day residents of Grey Ground stumbled upon her bloodied body and made an alarm.

A man from the Three Chains district was arrested for her murder days after the incident.

Several months later, Patricia’s family and their neighbours are still hurting, especially since the alleged killer has also been charged with the murders of two elderly women from the community. The women’s throats had been slashed, and there were also stab wounds all over their bodies.

Residents say one of the slain women was the wife of the alleged killer’s uncle, while the other was a close friend of his family. Both women had been raped.

The residents say the alleged killer also befriended Patricia, and gained her trust. They say he even cried when her body was found.

“Him a bawl loud, and say somebody must see who do it. That boy have no heart man,” one of Patricia’s relative said.

The residents told the Sunday Observer that a strange twist of fate led to the alleged killer’s arrest.

“Patricia dream him auntie and tell her say is her nephew kill her. She tell the woman say she fight him and scratch him up,” one resident said.

The alleged killer reportedly began wearing long-sleeved shirts and jackets, which aroused the suspicion of his relative who, residents say, called the police.

“When the police come and arrest him, the woman tell them say them must make him take off one jacket him was wearing and, sure enough, the boy full a scratch,” one resident told the Sunday Observer.

The man reportedly confessed to police about the other two murders after he was held. The case is now before the court. On the last court date, a few weeks ago, a large mob converged on the Mandeville courthouse, threatening “to rip” the alleged serial killer “apart with their bare hands”. Police, who were guarding the accused man, had to work overtime to control the angry mob. The police were forced to whisk the accused murderer through a back door of the court, while distracting the angry mob outside.

Meanwhile, the relatives of the murdered elderly women have since moved from the community – the pain was apparently too much for them to bear.

“Them say them don’t even want to hear bout down here again,” one resident said.

But even the relatives of the accused man have become victims of his alleged crimes. In the aftermath of Patricia Clayton’s death, several of them were threatened with physical harm by persons who were incensed at Patricia’s death. Last week, a fearful look shrouded the faces of some of his relatives as the Sunday Observer passed through the community. One teenager only stared blankly and refused to respond to the Sunday Observer’s questions.

“This life is a funny thing. Them still ‘fraid and them shoulda never haffi live in fear because of what that boy do. Now them life mash up just true dat,” said one resident, who gave his name as ‘Johnnie’.

For Patricia Clayton’s eldest daughter, 24-year-old Shanice Bailey, her mother’s killer must be brought to justice.

“That boy is a heartless serial killer who must dead. Sometimes I just sit at home and cry. My mother was left to rotten in bushes like an animal. Him fi dead,” Bailey said angrily, as she stared towards her toes with watery eyes.

But Dumas said that Bailey’s lust for revenge was a normal trait in people who have had a loved one violently ripped from their midst.

“When these situations come on suddenly you go into a state of denial and despair. That person has to be taught to deal with sudden death. We have to be careful not to encourage that person to stop grieving too soon. Crying has therapeutic value and the survivors need time to think and go through the process of shock,” Dumas said.

In addition, Dumas urged the community and the church to rally round the affected families in their time of need.

“They need a lot of people around them to provide support. This is where good friends and the church come in. It is more than going there and saying, ‘Let Us Pray’. Sometimes just to go there and sit with the bereaved is very important,” Dumas said.

Acts of kindness, he said, were very important in helping grieving relatives of murdered loved ones on the road to mental recovery.

“They need to be ministered to with resources also. In other words, spend some money,” Dumas said.