missingperson

In the wake of the tragic death of 12-year-old Adriel Moxey found in bushes partially clothed with a cloth tied around her neck, questions have arisen regarding the circumstances surrounding her upbringing and home environment.

Police say they have a 32-year-old man in custody and are questioning him in connection to the assault and murder. She was found dead on Wednesday afternoon, in the community she lived, and attended school and church, after she failed to turn up after a 6 pm Junkanoo practice session.

She was reported missing the next day after her mother woke at 3 am and realized Adriel was not home.

Questions have arisen about how the situation could have been avoided and what the community could have done to offer more assistance to Adriel even though the home was unsafe.

Protecting children from sexual abuse is a critical concern that requires vigilance and a proactive approach from everyone in the community. Here are some ways you can help safeguard other children from harm.

These are measures you can take to ensure each child’s safety:

*Know where your children and teens are when school is dismissed and ensure they are safely tucked in bed or their rooms before you go to bed.

*Be alert to changes in a child’s behavior that may indicate abuse, such as sudden withdrawal, anxiety, unexplained anger, and not wanting to go home. Recognizing these signs early can lead to quicker intervention.

*Be aware of who lives in your area and any concerns that may have been raised. While not all offenders are known or registered, staying informed through local community meetings and resources can be beneficial.

*Build a strong community network where neighbors look out for each other’s children, reinforcing a collective effort to protect the youngest members.

*Implement a neighborhood watch program that includes monitoring for suspicious activities and individuals who may not belong or are behaving unusually around children and teens.

*Create safe places for children and teens to play and hang out, and ensure they are always supervised by trusted adults. Encourage group activities rather than allowing children to play or walk alone in isolated areas.

*Teach them about appropriate and inappropriate behavior from adults. Foster an environment where children feel comfortable talking about their experiences and feelings.

*If you suspect a child is being targeted or is sexually assaulted, report it to the authorities immediately. It’s better to be cautious and report than to overlook potential dangers.

*Teach children about personal safety in a way that’s age-appropriate. They should know who to turn to if they feel uncomfortable or threatened.

*Explain the concept of consent to children and the importance of setting personal boundaries. Let them know it’s okay to say “no” to unwanted touch or attention, even from people they know and trust.

The mother and cousin of the 12-year-old Adriel Moxey found dead in bushes, Faith Avenue South on Wednesday are speaking out over the loss of their loved one, contending with many who said the family should have taken more responsibility for the child.

“Where was my village when I needed the village for my child?” Sasha Moxey asked. “I am only one person.”

Moxey spoke with Eye Witness News while at the morgue to identify her daughter who was found dead after she disappeared on Monday when she did not return home after a Junkanoo practice.

Friends said the Anatol Rodgers Junior High student was expected to arrive home by 6 p.m. When she did not, the family reported her missing to the police the next morning at day break, claiming that the draft hampered them from making a report at 3 am when she awoke and realized her daughter was missing.

“What was the police going to do at 3 o’clock in the morning that they can’t do at 6 [or] 7 [o’clock] when we start walking out the house?” she asked a Nassau Guardian reporter. “Do you know how far the police station is from here?” pointing towards Carmichael Road, the distance from Faith Avenue where she lives in a dilapidated house structure behind bushes.

Social media users have accused the mother of being irresponsible after she said that it is not unusual for Adriel to make her way home after dark after Junkanoo practice or track meet.

Crystal Chipman, a cousin stands with Moxey and believes the country’s systems failed instead.

“Ask the police how many times she (Moxey) came there making complaints with her former boyfriends, trying to abuse the children. Look in the system. Couple times she been to Carmichael Road Police Station plenty times, and Social Services, two years ago when another one attempted to touch the little girl. My mommy took her to Social Service. They never came and investigated the house.

“We’ve been to the Ministry of Works asking them for poles because there isn’t any light in the area. No poles. They never put the poles up. Now this happened and everyone is talking.”

Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander said the area where the girl’s body was discovered is the area she frequents to make her way home.

It was described as a poorly lit, rocky pathway.

Featured picture: Adriel’s mother, Sasha Moxey is seen with her boyfriend 35 year old Ethney Wallace

Prime Minister Philip Davis expressed anger after a young girl found partially clothed with a cloth tied tightly around her neck, was discovered dead in bushes Faith Avenue South.

“We are going to turn this country upside down to find the criminal who did this and bring him to justice,” he said in an X post.

His comment followed Education Minister Glenys Hanna-Martin’s grief. “This tragedy is an outrage of the worst kind and is felt by the entire nation. We pray the perpetrator is swiftly brought to justice.”

Free National Movement Chairman Duane Sands said he was “horrified” by reports of the discovery and “cannot imagine what pain her family is experiencing.”

“This unfortunately is another example of just how important it is for not only elected leaders but the country in general to redouble our collective efforts to restore safety in our nation.”

The girl believed to be a 12-year-old student of Anatol Rodgers Junior High, Adriel Moxey, disappeared on Monday when she did not return home after a Junkanoo practice.

Friends said she was expected to arrive home by 6 pm the day she vanished. When she did not arrive home, the family became suspicious and reported the matter to the police.

Her mother Sasha Moxey told Eye Witness News on Wednesday that it is not unusual for Adriel to make her way home by 7 pm after attending Junkanoo practice or track meet after school.

Police Commissioner Clayton Fernander said the area where the girl’s body was discovered is the area she frequents to make her way home.

He believes police are close to finding the suspect.

The mother was on scene and could be heard sobbing loudly.

If you have any information to help detectives, you are asked to contact CID at 502-9991/2.

Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander vows to find the person responsible for the death of a girl found in bushes on Wednesday evening near Anatol Rodgers School, Faith Avenue South.

Police believe the girl is 12-year-old Adriel Moxey who disappeared Monday when she did not return home after attending Junkanoo practice.

The girl was found half-naked wearing only a top, and a white cloth was tied tightly around her neck, Fernander said.

“We will leave no stone unturned until we find the individual. I take this personally,” a visibly upset Fernander said on the scene.

An operation team and investigators have already canvassed the area and can identify the suspect in the case, he said.

“We will move quickly on that information. We believe we are on the right track with the information we are receiving at this time.”

The Royal Bahamas Police Force issued the Marco Alert on Wednesday afternoon, and soon after, her body was discovered after officers used drones, canine dogs, and foot patrol in the area.

Her body was found down a poorly lit, rocky track road, lying on its back, Fernander said.

Adreil lives in the area and is a student of Anatol Rodgers Junior School.

She was believed to be walking after school, and friends reported that she was expected to make it home around 6 p.m., but she never arrived.

Her mother, Sasha Moxey, told Eye Witness News that it is not unusual for Adriel to make her way home by 7 p.m. after attending Junkanoo practice or a track meet after school.

When she did not arrive home, the family grew alarmed and filed a missing person report.

Her mother pleaded for her safe return but was hit with the harsh reality by evening.

“The person who has her, please send my daughter home,” the distraught mother lamented Wednesday afternoon.

Her cries were heard after the discovery. The girl’s father was also on the scene.

“That individual who is responsible, should not spend another hour out there,” Fernander said.

If you have any information to help detectives, you are asked to contact CID 502-9991/2.

Police are looking for 12-year-old Adreil Moxey from Faith Avenue after she disappeared on Monday.

A Marco Alert was issued Wednesday afternoon for the Anatol Rodgers’ student.

Adriel was believed to be walking after school, and friends reported that she was expected to make it home around 6 p.m., but she never arrived.

Her mother, Sasha Moxey, told Eye Witness News that it is not unusual for Adriel to make her way home by 7 p.m. after attending Junkanoo practice or a track meet after school.

When she did not arrive home, the family grew alarmed and filed a missing person report.

Adriel lives near the school and her mother pleads for her safe return.

“The person who has her, please send my daughter home,” the distraught mother lamented to reporters.

Adriel is brown-skinned, slim, and about 4 feet 8 inches tall.

You are asked to contact CID 502-9991/2 if you see her.

The distressed family and friends of American woman Taylor Casey who vanished one month ago in the Bahamas are holding out hope she’ll be found, though there are no new updates on her whereabouts since June 19.

Her family said they expected an update from the Royal Bahamas Police Force last Friday, but have not received it. They are still campaigning for the Chicago woman’s safe return while pleading for the FBI’s support in finding her.

Jacqueline Boyd has known Taylor for 17 years and describes her as an “amazing, amazing friend.”

“Anybody that has been in a room with her is really, really devastated right now, personally impacted and motivated to action,” he told CNN. “And it is fully a reflection of how Taylor shows up for us.”

Friends say Taylor, a transgender woman who grew up in south suburban Harvey, Illinois, and most recently moved to Rogers Park in Chicago, is an Air Force veteran, a community worker, a woman of faith, an artist, and a hairstylist.

“Taylor’s favorite things are flowers and gardens and just peace,” her mother, Colette Seymore told CNN. “Taylor is a very gentle spirit. Taylor just loves people, loves to help people, cares about people, cares about justice (and) fairness.”

Taylor had worked with Howard Brown Health in HIV testing and prevention, her friends said.

Since knowing her for just six years, Darlene Hughes, Taylor’s aunt said, “I immediately was adopted by her!”

“I love and I miss her proper voice and choice of words like ‘Hi Aunt Darlene.’ Just like that, I was accepted into Taylor’s heart. I am so fulfilled that I met her, but that is not enough for me. Please bring Taylor Casey home.”

Taylor was on a trip to the Bahamas to certify as a yoga instructor at the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat Center on Paradise Island when she mysteriously disappeared. Police found her phone in waters not far from where she stayed but were unsuccessful in recovering the contents of the phone, Commissioner of Police Clayton Fernander said.

Authorities have not found her US passport, raising an alarm in Chicago’s transgender and LGBTQ+ community, who founded the @findtaylorcasey Facebook and Instagram pages to bring awareness to her disappearance.

Since 41-year-old American woman Taylor Casey disappeared in the Bahamas five days ago, family and friends are worried sick.

“Taylor is such a sweet person who cares so deeply about community.

“I’m currently in shock and can’t believe I’m making this post,” her friend Anna Deshawn said.

The transgender woman who came to the Bahamas from Chicago arrived on June 2 to attend a yoga retreat but disappeared on June 19. Authorities were alerted when the retreat center on Paradise Island realized she did not come to its class on July 19. They then notified Taylor’s family.

Only her cell phone was found on a beach.

PREVIOUS: American transgender woman is still missing in the Bahamas. Police find her cellphone

Her family including her mother and grandmother are expected to arrive in the Bahamas on Tuesday to assist in the search effort.

Her mother Colette Seymour told CBS News, “We are deeply concerned for Taylor’s safety and wellbeing. We love Taylor and want her home.”

It is still unknown whether or not other items belonging to Taylor were found, if she traveled to the Bahamas alone, if she met up with a friend in the country, where she stayed, who paid for her accommodations, and if she left the resort.

The search ended with good news after 78-year-old Merlyn Cooper was found safe after disappearing when her flight from London landed at the Miami International Airport on Sunday.

“We are very relieved and thankful,” daughter Astrid told the Tribune. Cooper reportedly wandered in a store, when the owner perceived she was not well and called the police. 

The Grand Bahama native who suffers from dementia was missing for two days and concerns were growing when her daughters did not see her since that day when cameras showed her walking out of door #11 from the arrivals gate after reaching Miami.

She and a daughter travelled together before the daughter went to retrieve luggage, leaving Cooper in a wheelchair while in the care of a fellow passenger who offered to assist.

“We are glad we were able to find her,” a satisfied Astrid said. “She was just a little shaken up and dehydrated.”

Miami police and the Bahamas Consulate were helping the family to locate the widow and former teacher.

The year 2023 was marked by unpredictable events with many people being exposed to uncertainty and violence, some incidents causing fear and shock.

Here are the top five news stories that left us disturbed:

1. Kenise Darville’s death at PMH prompted accusations of neglect (January)

Mother of three, Kenise Darville died days after alleging negligence at the country’s primary healthcare institution, Princess Margaret Hospital. Her viral post detailed her unpleasant experience at PMH as she pleaded for blood after the doctor’s prolonged attempt to order platelets for her condition.

Her death sparked public outrage, renewed calls for health reform, and prompted an investigation.

2. Brothers were killed in Solomon’s Yard Together (April)

Two brothers Shakuar Oliver, 22, and Tyrone Jr, 28 were discovered shot to death in their vehicle parked in the vicinity of Solomon’s Super Center. Shakur, a boxer who represented the Bahamas internationally, and Tyrone Jr who planned to marry in the coming months, were murdered days after their father Tyrone Oliver, 60 warned the youngest son about accompanying his older brother, whose lifestyle grew contrary to how he was raised.

Father Oliver said that the Holy Spirit pressed him to warn his youngest son of the impending doom.

3. Family mourned a mother and daughter found murdered in an apartment (April)

A mother, Allison Thompson, and her 14-year-old daughter were discovered partially decomposed in an apartment on Ross Corner on Allison’s 38th birthday. The discovery was made after neighbors smelled a foul odor emanating from the building.

A 23-year-old man, believed to be a boyfriend, was arrested in connection with their murder.

The incident renewed calls for greater protection of women and girls from violence.

4. American teen goes missing after jumping overboard (May)

Louisiana teenager Cameron Robbins, 18, went missing after going overboard a cruise boat in the Bahamas, while on a post-graduation trip. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force and US Coast Guard suspended search efforts after days of trying to find the missing teen. A video emerged of Robbins in the water, without a life jacket on and dressed only in swim trunks, in a reported dare attempt, as many of his classmates yelled in panic.

He remains missing.

5. American guest killed by shark while paddle boarding near Sandals Beach Resort, Bahamas (December)

American tourist Lauren Erickson Van Wart, 44, visiting the Bahamas from Boston, Massachusetts, was killed by a shark while paddle boarding off the coast of a Sandals Beach Resort. A lifeguard rescued her and her husband who was uninjured during the ordeal.

She died a short time after she was brought ashore.

The rare incident made international headlines with many experts speculating on the shark’s behaviour.

While Cameron Robbins remains missing in Bahamian waters, his family wrote an obituary to eulogize the 18-year-old. He is described as “funny and kindhearted, but also intense and driven.”

“Though he left this world far too soon, he lived a life full of good friends and family,” the tribute reads.

Robbins, an American high-school graduate, was last seen swimming in dark waters near Anthol Island in the Bahamas, but soon disappeared, making international headlines and spurring an intense search and rescue effort by Bahamian authorities and US Coast Guards.

The Robbins family retraced his steps in the area he was last seen on last week Wednesday and now accepts that he met his demise, returning to Louisiana last Sunday.

Now the family is preparing a memorial for the young baseball athlete, set for July 4 at 4 pm at Broadmoor United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge.

Robbins who was adopted at birth, loved fishing, and had just returned from a weekend fishing trip on the Louisana Gulf Coast with his father and brother before he left with friends on the graduation trip to the Bahamas, his family said.

“He was a tough player, battling back from multiple injuries, known to pitch through separated shoulders and broken hands. He hoped to continue his baseball career at the college level.”

Robbins was also vice president of the youth group at St Andrew’s United Methodist where he served.

Since his disappearance, many speculated that Robbins was killed by sharks, a theory based on an image seen in a video when he swims away from the boat that he reportedly jumped from.  The area he was last seen is also territory for the predators, and previous shark attacks occurred there.

“Had they found a piece of clothing or any kind of clue, that would cause them to extend that 48-hour period, but if they don’t get any kind of indication then that’s usually when they call it off,” said United Cajun Navy Vice President Brian Trascher after the search was called off on Friday.

“It took a lot of strength for them to go out there and stay for a few days. When we offered to take them out in a boat to the area where he went overboard and some of the areas they were searching… They went, which I know had to be very emotional for them, but they went and by Sunday they decided they wanted to go home.”

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to Christian Homes and Family Services, an adoption agency.