ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica — Police have launched a search for the body of a St Elizabeth woman believed to have been killed after reports that she was allegedly murdered and dumped in a river in the Lacovia area on Monday night.

The missing woman has been identified as 50-year-old Nicola Rhoden, otherwise called “Nicky”.

The woman’s spouse was rescued by the police after he was set upon by a mob in Barton Wharf, Lacovia. He was arrested and taken for medical attention as investigators probed the woman’s disappearance.

Preliminary reports are that shortly before midnight residents confronted the man and questioned him about Rhoden’s whereabouts. Police said the residents accused him of killing Rhoden and dumping her body in the river.

Residents reportedly became suspicious after Rhoden was last seen alive by relatives on Sunday night and was not seen throughout Monday. During checks at her home, they reportedly discovered that some of the man’s belongings were also missing.

Residents then went in search of the man and reportedly accosted him while he was attempting to flee the area late Monday.

A search has since been launched to locate her body.

— Kasey Williams