For Prudence Griffiths, her son Navardo was the light of her life, a lively, loving boy who brought joy to everyone around him. Even after learning that her son had autism at age three, she embraced his differences, describing him as helpful and friendly. “Him loving and would just make everyone laugh…As much as him autistic, mi baby very helpful eno,” she said.
Now, Griffiths is heartbroken. Her worst fears became reality when eight-year-old Navardo’s body was found in the trunk of an old car on an avenue in Gregory Park, St Catherine.
Navardo was last seen on Friday, playing at a field close to his home with his three siblings while their grandmother stepped out to get food. When she returned, she saw the children, but Navardo suddenly ran off into an avenue, vanishing from sight.
Despite an extensive search involving family, police, and residents, he remained missing for days. As Griffiths walked home with a group of women, they noticed flies gathering around an old car parked near the same avenue. Overwhelmed by fear, she watched as police investigated. Her worst fears were confirmed when her uncle identified Navardo’s body.
Griffiths, who had clung to the hope that he was safe, is now devastated. She expressed that she has been feeling an excruciating pain inside her belly ever since her son’s boy was found. “Mi son would not go in a car go lay down, someone do him something,” she told the Jamaica Star.
Griffiths wasn’t the only one convinced that foul play was involved in the 8-year-old autistic boy’s death. Community members echoed her suspicions, saying there was no way Navardo would willingly climb into the car and stay there without alerting anyone.
“This little boy don’t go road eno and there is no way him would open the car and go in there go lay down. From Sunday mi a smell something but we think is a dog. Him wouldn’t go in the car go dead because autistic or not, him would start cry or beat the window.” one resident said. The resident also pointed out the strange circumstances, noting that since the car was parked right in front of a gate, it was impossible for him to go into it unseen.