TRINIDAD & TOBAGO POLICE SERVICE

PUBLIC AFFAIRS UNIT

Police Administration Building, 2nd Floor, Corner Edward & Sackville Streets
P.O. Box 387, Port of Spain, Trinidad, Republic of Trinidad & Tobago
Telephone: 1 (868) 625-8395
Facsimile: 1 (868) 625-7133
Email: publicaffairs@ttps.gov.tt

MEDIA RELEASE
10th November, 2014

Update Re: Missing Family

The search for missing persons: Irma Rampersad- 49 years, Felicia Gonzales-17
years, Jennelle Gonzales 19 years, Shania Amoruso- 1 year and Felix Martinez
51 years is continuing. It is now 13 days since the family has been missing and a
Hot-line has been established for persons with information on the missing family.
Hot-line 708-9356
A search party comprising officers from the Blanchisseuse Police, North Eastern
Division Task Force, Guard and Emergency Branch, Inter-Agency Task Force,
TTPS Air Support Unit, Canine Unit, Homicide Bureau and Trinidad and Tobago
Defense Force under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police Harold
Phillip, Snr. Supt Radcliff Boxhill, Supt Trim, Insp Ramsook and other officers.
The Anti-Kidnapping Unit was also deployed together with the Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry department. Initial searches were conducted at Health
institutions and relatives and close associates were interviewed. The home of the
missing persons was also processed by Crime Scene personnel.
A command post was set up at the Brasso Seco Community Centre. Joint search
groups were deployed to check places of interest, trails and forested areas. On
Thursday 30th October, 2014, the search party came upon a burning wooden
structure about 2 kilometres along a track in the Brasso Seco forest close to the
home of the missing family. The Crime Scene investigators along with Officers of
the Fire Prevention Unit were called in, checks were made of the debris, however
nothing of evidential value was found.

On Sunday 2nd November, 2014, four persons were arrested and were interviewed
with respect to the missing family. One of them, Lance Hill of Jump Street,
Demerara Road, Arima was charged for possession of Marijuana, appeared before
the Arima Magistrate Court on Wednesday 5th November, 2014, plead guilty and
was fined $6000.00 and given two weeks to pay the fine. The other three were
subsequently released.
On Saturday 8th November, 2014 around 10:30 am the joint search team observed
an object about one hundred feet down a precipice in the vicinity of the burnt out
structure. Further checks revealed what appeared to be the remains of an adult
person and that of a young child wrapped in a black and red sleeping bag. The
DMO Dr. Ramroop, visited the scene and ordered that the remains be removed to
Forensic Science Centre for a post-mortem to be conducted. Additionally, members
of the Trinidad and Tobago Fire Services Search and Rescue Unit and the National
Operations Centre are also assisting in the exercise. Several persons were
interviewed and statements were recorded.
Three of those persons who were previously arrested and released, were rearrested and are now in Police custody.
The Victim and Witness Support Unit will be providing counseling to family
members of the missing family. The Homicide Bureau of Investigations has now
taken the lead in this investigation.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police service has deemed Azmon Alexander alias Pappi
and Apalon of Bye-Pass Road, Arima a person of interest and efforts are being
made to have him arrested.
Search efforts are continuing.
-End-