KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Security Dr Horace Chang is appealing to residents of Trench Town in St Andrew to cooperate with the police investigating the gruesome murder of 14-year-old Yetanya Francis.

The teenager, who attended the Kingston Technical High School, was found dead in her community Friday morning after she went missing the night before.

According to reports, she left home about 8:00 pm to purchase food at a nearby shop. When she did not return, residents launched a search but her nude body, which was partially burnt, was not found until the next morning. It is said that there were signs of rape and strangulation.

Chang, who this afternoon condemned the murder in a release from his ministry, said “Yetanya represented, like all our youth, the promise and potential of the prosperous Jamaica we all want to see”.

“This killing of a young school girl just ahead of the start of the new school year is a truly saddening event and my condolences go out to the family and friends of young Yetanya Francis,” he continued.

“We must continue our efforts to fight crime, and murders in particular. I therefore encourage the residents and leadership of the Trench Town community to extend their full cooperation to the police. The perpetrators of this heinous crime must be swiftly brought to justice.”

The police have asked individuals who may have seen or heard anything regarding this incident to contact the Denham Town Criminal Investigations Branch (CIB) )at 876-948-6443 or 876-922-6441, police 119 emergency number, Crime Stop at 311, 811 or the nearest police station.