WESTMORELAND, Jamaica – Two Westmoreland families are on tenterhooks following the disappearance of their daughters, 14-year old Rachel Lawrence and 13-year-old Ciara Samuels, who are both students of Frome Technical High School.

The two teenagers, who are said to be best friends, have reportedly been missing since Monday. They were last seen after classes were dismissed.

Ciara’s mother, Marcine Drummond told Observer Online that she became concerned when her daughter did not return to their Broughton, Little London home at the usual time.

“She left yesterday at about 7:30[am]. When it reached 4:30[pm] mi nuh hear nothing,” the distraught mother said.

She said she reported the matter to the Little London police station at 7pm that same day.

Drummond said her daughter’s disappearance could be as a result of a warning she gave her Monday morning.

“I kinda have an idea that she would have done it, because in the morning I warned her that when she goes to school she must cut off the friendship with Rachel,” the mother told Observer Online on Tuesday afternoon.

She said her warnings came on the heels of her daughter receiving low grades on her school report and displaying poor behavior in classes.

“I took her phone, I took her laptop and I said to her, when you go to school today [Monday]. I need you to end the friendship with Rachel and if you’re sitting beside her I need you to move to the front of the class because I can’t afford to send you to class and you’re not doing anything,” the mother recalled telling her daughter.

She said this is not the first time her daughter has gone missing, as she ran away last January and was found wandering in downtown Kingston soon after.

The mother of two is appealing to her daughter to return home.

“Ciara, please come home! I have warned you a million times what this world is like. Please come home before it is too late,” she pleaded.

Meanwhile, Rachel’s parents are struggling to cope over their daughter’s disappearance, which has sent shockwaves across their community of Waterworks in the parish.
“I’m wondering if she’s in Kingston. Mi just come from the doctor, mi and mi wife. Mi pressure is up and my wife have to get an injection to calm her down,” the father, Kenneth Lawrence said.

He is pleading with his daughter, who celebrated her 14th birthday a week ago, to return home.

‘Mi just want her to come home and even to sit with the police or [CPFSA] Child Protection and Family Services Agency who can really counsel her,” the father begged.

According to the police’s missing person report, Rachel is of dark complexion, medium build and about 157 centimetres (5 feet 2 inches) tall.

Reports from the Whithorn Police are that about 7:30 am, Rachel was last seen at home wearing her school uniform— a white blouse, green tunic and a pair of black shoes. She has not been heard from since.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Rachel Lawrence is being asked to contact the Whithorn Police at 876-957-7713, the 119 Police Emergency number or the nearest police station.

Meanwhile, Ciara Samuels is of dark complexion, slim build and about 162 centimetres (5 feet 4 inches) tall. She was last seen in her school uniform— a white blouse, green tunic and a pair of black shoes. She has not been heard from since.

The report continued: “Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Ciara Samuels is being asked to contact the Little London Police at 876-955-7449, the 119 Police Emergency number or the nearest police station.”

– Kimberley Peddie