Residents of Marlin Way in Braeton, Portmore, say the deadly chopping incident that claimed the life of a mother and injured her daughter may have been prevented if earlier pleas for help had been answered. Community members say they had repeatedly raised concerns about the suspect, believed to be mentally unwell, but those worries never led to intervention before tragedy struck.
Police say the deceased, 63-year-old Sonia LaBeach Dillion, was killed inside her home in the community on Tuesday morning. The gruesome attack left her 41-year-old daughter hospitalised after sustaining severe chop wounds. While her condition was confirmed to be serious, she is stable and speaking to relatives about the incident.
Preliminary reports said the suspect was detained in the community after he fled the victims’ house. However, an update from the Greater Portmore police and the Criminal Branch confirmed that the man is still at large.
According to the Jamaica Gleaner, the attack happened just after 9:00 a.m. when the man gained entry to the house and used a machete to chop both women. The daughter was reportedly defending herself when she was injured. After the attack, he fled the scene, and his departure was reportedly captured on CCTV footage, according to the police. All efforts to locate him up to late Tuesday evening were unsuccessful.
Neighbours say the man previously had a residence in the area, but he started sleeping outside in bushes and open lots when he fell on hard times. Some residents describe a complicated relationship with the suspect, one shaped by concern, fear, and sympathy.
They said they occasionally gave him food, believing he needed support. However, there were times when the man behaved strangely. Other residents who recalled unsettling encounters said they had worried for some time that something serious could happen.
Residents say they have been asking for help, but none was received, and now they are forced to confront the possibility that earlier mental-health intervention might have changed the outcome. One of the residents, a woman, said the suspect attempted to attack her son some months ago, and she had been glaring at him ever since to show her fearlessness.
After the incident, family members gathered outside the home, comforting each other as they struggled to process the loss. At Dillion’s workplace in Cross Roads, St Andrew, co-workers were left in shock after learning why the usually punctual supervisor had not shown up for work. Colleagues remembered her as dependable, disciplined, and caring toward staff.