A Westmoreland caregiver was arrested after she kept the corpse of an elderly woman who passed away nearly two years ago. While Gena Robinson says she was following the instructions of God by not reporting the death of the woman she was caring for, her actions came with severe legal consequences.
The 54-year-old caregiver faces multiple charges after Viola Destin’s mummified body was found by a relative who visited their Old Hope home in Little London. The family member found the corpse concealed in a sheet.
The remains were partially covered with a tarpaulin as they lay on a mattress, according to the Jamaica Star. Robinson’s reason for keeping her there was that the deceased died before her soul was “saved,” and Robinson feared that if she was buried, she would go to hell.
Police believe Destin died on December 10, 2023. Following her death, her corpse was kept in a room.
The Star cited a source, who shared, “She said God spoke to her in a vision and told her not to bury the body or report it. And that the woman wasn’t saved, and that’s why she had to keep her from being buried so she can be saved.”
The bizarre explanation was accompanied by even more disturbing details. The body, despite being kept for such an extended period, still had skin on the bones. “Maybe she did have embalming fluids or something,” the source speculated.
Robinson and Destin were not related by blood but met through church. Destin reportedly had no close family living in Jamaica, which may have allowed the situation to go unnoticed for so long, according to the report. Robinson has since been charged with failure to report the death of a person and preventing the lawful burial of a corpse. She was additionally charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.
According to the report, the body, which has since been moved to a mortuary, may be too badly decomposed for an autopsy. Post-mortem is pending, and it was confirmed that a toxicology report could still be conducted. The Westmoreland Police Division has confirmed the investigation is ongoing.