MANDEVILLE, Manchester — As the search for 12-year-old Jayden Smith enters its fifth day his aunt and guardian, Ann-Marie Thompson, is rubbishing talk that ill-treatment is at the foundation of his disappearance.

“The negativity that persons are sending — because my son just showed me something just a while ago with somebody saying that we ‘beat him and bury him’ — is like persons supposed to understand when you are grieving or you are under stress, don’t try to say something to make the situation worse,” Thompson told journalists ahead of the search on Tuesday.

Sharing that she took the youngster into her home when he was five years old, Thompson said: “I have Jayden for seven years…I was the one who got birth certificate for Jayden, got him fully immunised and everything when we were preparing for Jayden.”

She said that although he had a “rough” upbringing she managed to raise him to achieve academic success.

“He is also the top student for Bethabara Primary School. He was also the valedictorian for the school’s graduation. I did every preparation to get Jayden off for school, so why would I try to hurt him now because of a little incident. Accidents do happen,” she said in reference to a pelvic injury sustained by her two-year-old grandson while reportedly playing with Jayden last Thursday, a day before the schoolboy went missing after attending classes at Manchester High.

Thompson said that the grandson “has a tablet with a little action cartoon on it where he jumps and he does the action, so he was there in the living room…he was there doing it with Jayden…in the room I heard [the toddler] scream out, so I rushed into the room to find him on the ground crouching. I asked Jayden what happened. He said [the toddler] fell on his leg. I said, ‘Jayden, you just have to be more careful when playing with the baby.’ That is all I said. All of us got ready and went to the hospital,” Thompson said, adding that her tone while talking to Jayden was not harsh.

Thompson said although she remains puzzled as to his disappearance she is questioning whether he is battling with guilt following the incident with his cousin.

“It is a possibility, but Jayden is a person who don’t show his emotions…He grew up very rough, so I don’t know if is because of that he keeps things [to himself],” Thompson said.

The distraught woman is appealing to mischievous individuals to desist from making prank calls about Jayden’s whereabouts.

“People have been reaching out, but some have been very negative, because I got two calls yesterday I had to rush down to the hospital where somebody said he was down there with a head injury, unconscious. I rushed down there, nothing like that. Somebody call me Saturday night say they have Jayden down by bottom KFC, after calling them I got no answer and that [has added] to my distress,” she said.

Shortly after the interview, Thompson joined a search party comprising dozens of people, including firefighters, police, soldiers, teachers, and family friends to comb through the Perth area, a few kilometres south of Manchester High School in Mandeville.

District officer at the Jamaica Fire Brigade Fitzroy Donaldson said he along with a dozen firefighters joined the search.

“We started the search operation with 13 members of staff. Some of them are on duty. Quite a few of them are volunteers who came on their day off just to volunteer their services for this cause,” he said.

“Initially we went to Perth Estate. We got information that he might have been in that area. However, we conducted a search of the empty houses over there and we came up short. It was clear that he was not in that area,” he added.

Donaldson said the firefighters were not able to verify the whereabouts of Jayden to assist in the search.

“We got some information that he might have been on Perth Drive. We visited that area and we still came up short. Clearly some persons may be spreading misinformation, which we don’t want at this time. However, we encourage persons to look out and see if he is on the road just wandering around,” he said.

“We have not found any credible information, because we haven’t seen him on any cameras with our own eyes, so we implore persons in the area to just look out for him,” he added.

Manchester High School Principal Jasford Gabriel remained hopeful on Tuesday for Jayden’s safe return.

“As the days progress it is becoming more anxious, because by now we were hoping and praying that somehow Jayden would have returned to school, but there is still a lot of hope,” he said.

“…We have parents, teachers, staff members, and, of course, the police’s canine division and other persons who are here just to accompany the search, and we are praying that it will be a very good outcome for us here,” added Gabriel.

The principal said support has been given to Jayden’s classmates in grade seven who have been grappling with news of his disappearance.

“School has just not been the same since the incident and we are really trusting God for a good outcome…Our guidance department has been doing a fabulous job just getting around to the students, whether in large groups or small groups, just to encourage them and also to give some tips in terms of what can be learnt…from this experience,” he said.

“I went to the form that Jayden is in [and] had a chat with the students and prayed with them. They left his desk and chair very free and they are very expectant that he will return and they are looking forward to having him — very jovial youngster, very brilliant,” he added.

“What has happened here is out of character. When you talk to the students, even the family and so on, unless there are things happening that we are not aware of at school…Up to the last time the students left him on Friday he was in a jovial mood. Probably eating a little more than he would normally eat,” said Gabriel.

Jayden’s aunt is appealing to anyone with information about his whereabouts to alert the authorities. Jayden is of dark complexion, slim build, and about 152 centimetres (5 feet) tall.

“For us it is a very sad, lonely moment of despair. Jayden is my twin brother’s son, so you can know the bond that we have. Jayden is like a glue to me. He is just a loving child, a humble child. He is helpful. Words just can’t explain how much of a good child Jayden is, so I am imploring the community…anybody who knows where Jayden is, if you see him just bring him back home to us,” Thompson appealed.

Members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and Jamaica Fire Brigade searching a remote area off Perth Road in Mandeville for missing 12-year-old Jayden Smith on Tuesday. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

Jayden Smith’s aunt and guardian Ann-Marie Thompson, holding a missing person’s poster bearing the boy’s image while on a call during Tuesday’s search for him. Beside her is Jamaica Fire Brigade District Officer Fitzroy Donaldson. (Photo: Kasey Williams)

Manchester High School Principal Jasford Gabriel (centre) engaging in a conversation with members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s canine unit and missing person’s desk on Tuesday. (Photo: Kasey Williams)