Cops probe death of 8-y-o girl at Portland home
PORTLAND, Jamaica – Police are probing the circumstances surrounding the death of an eight-year-old girl at her home in Portland on Friday.
The deceased has been identified as Venice Burke of a West Baptist Avenue address in the parish.
Police report that Venice, a student of a Comfort Castle institution, was at home with her stepfather after leaving school when the incident occurred.
It is understood that the stepfather stated that he was in the front of the yard along with another man making a bed head when he saw Venice outside without shoes with a plastic bag in her hand. According to the stepdad, he sent the girl back inside the house to put on her shoes.
It was reported that when the stepdad did not hear from Venice, he went to check and saw the girl lying on the floor unresponsive with the said plastic bag over her face and in a pool of urine. He made checks inside the house but he did not see anyone.
He took the child to the Port Antonio Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The Port Antonio police are investigating.
-Everard Owen