THE police have laid several charges against two Westmoreland women following the discovery of the body of 69-year-old Viola Destin of Good Hope district, Sheffield, Westmoreland, in a mummified state in Old Hope district, Little London, in the parish on Sunday, July 6. They are also seeking a United States-based pastor, who they believe can help with their investigations.

Delroy Jones, a Jamaican national currently believed to be residing in Colorado, has been named as a person of interest in the ongoing investigation surrounding the death and subsequent concealment of Destin’s body, the police said yesterday. The investigators believe he may be able to significantly assist with the case, and as such is being asked to make contact.

Charged so far are 54-year-old Gena Robinson of Old Hope district and 49-year-old Lavern Wedderburn of Rocky Hill in Sheffield.

The duo have been charged with concealment of a corpse, preventing the lawful burial of a corpse, perverting the course of justice, conspiracy to concealment of a corpse, and conspiracy to prevent the lawful burial of a corpse.

Reports from the Savanna-la-Mar Police are that Wedderburn saw Destin begging in Savanna-la-Mar sometime in 2023 and told Robinson about her situation.

Robinson and Wedderburn then sought advice from a pastor overseas, and following his instructions, they started to care for Destin.

Shortly after, Destin became gravely ill and was moved to Robinson’s house in Old Hope district, where she died on Sunday, December 10, 2023.

Following her death, the caregivers opted to conceal the body inside a room at the house and sprinkled it with chemicals and baking soda to keep the stench down.

A relative of Robinson stumbled upon the makeshift grave at the house on Sunday, July 6, and summoned the police. On their arrival, the mummified remains of the elderly woman were found covered beneath sheets, plastic and tarpaulin.

Following the discovery, the scene was processed, and the remains were transported to the morgue pending a post-mortem.

Robinson was taken into custody the very same day the body was found and Wedderburn three days later.

They were charged on Tuesday after they gave caution statements. They also confessed to the roles they played in question-and-answer sessions in the presence of two justices of the peace.

No court date has yet been set for them.

Last week a grandniece of Destin, who asked not to be named, dismissed suggestions that the family failed to realise she had died, as they were uncaring.

According to the woman, Destin had experienced mental issues while going through menopause and, as a result, lived with various family members on different occasions. However, she was unable to say how her grandaunt ended up with a caregiver in Old Hope.