WESTMORELAND, Jamaica  – The Westmoreland police have laid charges against 29-year-old Sharone McDonald for cruelty to a child following the death of her eight-year-old son, who perished in a fire last weekend.

The incident happened after 11:00 pm at their Top Lincoln, Grange Hill residence.

McDonald was charged following a witness statement.

Reports from the police are that  McDonald, the mother of Jahmiel Richardson, left him unattended in their one-bedroom concrete and wooden structured house.

Citizens in the community then reportedly saw fire coming from the house and heard the boy calling out for his mother.

The residents rushed to his assistance, however, the fire is said to have quickly engulfed the house, thwarting them from helping.

Observer Online understands that the police and the Savanna-la-Mar Fire Department were alerted.

During the cooling down operations, firemen reportedly found the charred remains of the Peggy Barry Primary student’s body in the back section of the house.

READ: 8-y-o boy dies in fire, mother in custody

The house was destroyed along with its contents. The value of the damage has not yet been determined.

READ: Mother to be charged after 8-y-o dies in Westmoreland house fire

Kimberley Peddie