FREE HILL, St Ann — Relatives of three people slaughtered at their house in Free Hill on July 18 are appealing for help with their burial which is planned for the end of this month.

A fourth member of the family drowned three weeks before the triple murder that rocked the country and the financial burden is simply too much for their relatives.

“A four of them we alone have to bury right now and it is not easy for us at all. We can’t afford so much so we need help from anywhere we can get it. The family will put in as well, but it is a lot for us same way,” Maureen Wilson Parris told the Jamaica Observer.

Her only daughter, 45-year-old Antria Rattary; her 13-year-old grandson Mykah Bonitto; and her cousin, 50-year-old Lawrence Baddal were all found with knife and machete wounds to their upper bodies. Her brother Jocelyn Wilson drowned at Blue Hole in Ocho Rios on July 4.

The plan is to bury Rattary, Bonitto and Wilson in Free Hill, Bamboo, while Baddal is to be buried at a family plot in St Mary.

“I went to the parlour [Wednesday] and they do the package for us, which was $530,000 because we are doing three of them together at Delapenha [funeral parlour] in Brown’s Town. The other one would be at a funeral home in St Mary so he is not in this package yet,” said Wilson Parris.

“We already dig grave for the three in Bamboo so they have to bury together. So I’m kindly asking for the help. I want whoever is willing to contribute to just send the money directly to the parlour, don’t give me,” she added.

The financial strain has compounded the family’s struggle to come to terms with the loss of their loved ones. Though it has not been an easy couple of weeks, Wilson Parris said she has been learning to cope.

“I’m holding on and thanking God I’m alive. I put my trust in him because he knows what is best at all times. Sometimes it get to my head and I cry because I feel the stress. Yesterday my pressure was so high but I just try to relax myself and take it easy,” she told the Observer.

Her 15-year-old grandson who reportedly discovered the blood-drenched bodies is also trying his best to overcome the tragedy, she said.

“Everyone is trying and my grandson is coming on fine because he has other cousins and so on around him to cheer him up. Sometimes it hit him but the best thing is that he has who to play with and talk to,” said Wilson Parris.

The family longs for closure, which will only come when they know who killed their relatives and why.

“The police are still investigating and I’m just waiting on them to do their work while praying about it because it is hard,” Wilson Parris said.

According to Senior Superintendent of Police in St Ann Dwight Powell, they are still awaiting the forensics report to proceed with their investigation.