Relieved!! That’s how family members of Rushelle ‘Neeky’ Gordon are feeling today, along with members of her community and the Norwood Evangelistic Centre (NEC).
Gordon, 36, of Hollywood, Norwood in Montego Bay, has been found alive, after she went missing after exiting a taxi along Orange and North Streets in Montego Bay last Thursday (November 4th).
News came on Tuesday that she was found in Kingston and family members journeyed to the capital to verify if it was indeed her.
It was an atmosphere of jubilation inside the facility where Neeky was being cared for by medical staff in Kingston.
“We reached Kingston, and it is Rushelle Gordon. Yes, I could hug my sister. We all could hug her and talk to her. It is ‘Neeky.” I want to say thanks for all the prayers that were sent up. Our prayers did not go in vain,” said Neeky’s eldest sister, Kerry-Ann Hutchinson, a minister at the NEC.
The police are still carrying investigations to ascertain how she ended up in Kingston given that Rushell, whom has been diagnosed with a mental health disorder, is unable to make independent decisions, which makes her vulnerable.
She, along with her family are all members of the NEC.
In his reaction, Lloyd James, Pastor of the NEC, told The Western Mirror Thursday that God is faithful. “He said he will never leave or forsake us. This is full testament to what had transpired in Rushelle’s case. As a church community, we are sincerely thankful to all persons who have contributed in her safe return – to include the media, the police, the church community and members of the public,” he said.
MOVING FORWARD
And early Wednesday morning, Zone II Commander of the St. James Police Division, Detective Inspector Ricardo Clarke, confirmed with The Western Mirror that Rushelle Gordon had been located in Kingston. He said, however, that on her return to St. James, it would be instructive for the family to revisit the Barnett Street Police Station along with her, in keeping with established and lawful protocol. This would also determine how the investigations would be further treated.
Inspector Clarke is based at the Barnett Street Police Station, which is one of the stations, for which he has direct oversight. Sergeant Romeo Gayle is the second in command, as that station commander. Both officers were quite instrumental in carrying out daily searches for Rushelle; along with Corporal Christopher Jones and Constables Rajae Reid and Judith Green.
On learning of Neeky’s disappearance and a request made of him for assistance, Detective Inspector Clarke, without hesitation, assigned a team comprising Corporal Jones and Constable Reid to accompany her family members, as they walked through dreaded inner-city communities in search of Neeky.
Notably, however, in a remarkable act of bravery, Detective Inspector Clarke and Sergeant Gayle single-handedly visited a reputed ‘hotspot’ under the cover of dark, on separate occasions in search of her, based on credible information that came to their knowledge.
Reliable sources have theorized that as a result of the police sustained action it may have resulted in the missing woman being whisked off into Kingston. Inspector Clarke has assured that investigations would continue into the matter.
Noel Thompson- Contributing Reporter –