A 44-year-old man has been formally charged following the abduction of a six-year-old girl from her school in Clarendon, an incident that sent shockwaves through the community and sparked urgent questions about school safety. The suspect, identified as Jeffrey McKenzie, otherwise known as “Face”, is a higgler from Havana Heights in the parish.
McKenzie is facing multiple charges, including abduction, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and larceny from the person. The charges stem from events that unfolded last Tuesday afternoon, when the child was taken from the St Thomas More Preparatory School shortly after dismissal.
According to reports, concern first arose around 2:30 p.m. when the child’s parents arrived at the school to collect her, only to be told that she had already been picked up. This discovery prompted immediate alarm, and a high alert was quickly issued as police and community members began searching for the missing child.
Investigators say McKenzie went onto the school compound, took the child by the hand, and led her away without authorisation. As the search intensified, he reportedly moved with the child through nearby bushes in an attempt to avoid detection.
The abduction was eventually foiled when the pair emerged near the Bustamante Highway. Clarendon Councillor for the Hayes Division, Scean Barnswell, and his wife were travelling in the area and noticed a young girl matching the description of the missing child. A photograph of the girl had been circulating in a community group chat, allowing them to quickly recognise her.
The councillor restrained the abductor, saved the child, and alerted the police, who responded and took McKenzie into custody. In the days since the incident, attention has shifted to the school’s response and security measures. The administration of St Thomas More Preparatory has not issued a public statement.
The child’s mother, Nichola Barrett-Glasgow, said the security guard for the school saw the girl being led away by the unfamiliar man and did not sound an alarm. She called on the school to strengthen its security protocols to ensure that no similar incident occurs in the future.