TRELAWNY, Jamaica – Following the killing of 15-year-old Jamila Cole, who was raped and beaten to death while her mother and female relative were attacked during a home invasion in Trelawny, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Winston Milton says two persons of interest are now in custody.

“We have been working assiduously since we received reports of this really outrageous incident which occurred in a quiet rural family community in the parish. The entire country has been shocked…since then we have taken two persons of interest in custody,” he said.

DSP Milton, who is the head of the Trelawny Police Division, said based on investigations, members of the community can assist with locating the third perpetrator.

“We have been working assiduously to locate a third person who we believe the public can assist us in locating. He is Tyrese Brown, otherwise called ‘Cheap Man’ or ‘TJ’ from an Allside district address in the parish of Trelawny. We believe that this man can assist us in advancing our investigation. Consequently, we are imploring him to come forward at the Falmouth Police Station and speak with us. He may do so if he desires with an attorney or a reputable member of the community (pastor, Justice of the Peace),” DSP Milton said.

“With that said, we are still appealing to members of the community, who can assist us, to assist us with the investigative process. I strongly believe, based on where we are in our investigations that there are persons in the community who are in possession of information that is able to assist us in this regard,” he continued.

Unable to survive the brutality inflicted upon her, Cole, a student of Albert Town High School and resident of Cotton Tree in Albert Town died from her injuries on Monday.

According to a police source close to the investigation, about 2:30 am on Sunday, a woman, her daughter and niece were asleep at their home when hoodlums entered the house through a kitchen window.

The culprits reportedly used blunt instruments to beat the three females in their heads. Another child, who was at the house at the time of the incident, was not harmed.

READ: Teenager raped, beaten to death during home invasion

DSP Minto added that evidence suggests family members were not involved in the incident, noting that focus should remain on finding the suspects.

“We would also like to dispel some of the rumours that have been going around on social media as it relates to family members being involved in this bizarre incident. I must point out categorically that so far there is nothing in our investigation that implicates any member of the family in this very very heinous crime. So, we ask persons to desist from doing so because in doing so you may put innocent persons lives at risk and we are not into that,” he added.