The brutal killing of three-year-old Shamair Henry and his one-year-old brother, Amair Saunders, has sent shockwaves across Jamaica, leaving families, leaders, and citizens grappling with grief and disbelief. The boys, police say, were fatally stabbed with a pair of scissors while in their crib.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness was among the first to respond, calling the loss “unspeakable”. In a statement, he urged Jamaicans to rally in prayer and compassion for the grieving family. “Today, Jamaica weeps,” Holness said. “No parent should ever have to endure such a tragedy, and as a country, we mourn alongside them.” He added that while the State has a duty to safeguard children, every citizen must also take responsibility when signs of danger emerge.
The Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) echoed those sentiments, describing the murders as “absolutely horrific”. Its CEO, Laurette Adams-Thomas, expressed sorrow not only for the boys but also for their mother, who has lost both of her children in one night. “We shudder to think of what these innocent children may have endured in their final moments,” she said.
The tragedy unfolded Tuesday night in Swamp, St Ann. According to police reports, the suspect is the 22-year-old father of Amair. The father resides with his son, and the mother was visiting the home in the company of her other child, Shamair, according to Adams-Thomas. While at the father’s home, the two adults reportedly consumed ganja tea around 8:00 p.m.
However, the father began behaving erratically, prompting the mother to flee to the Moneague Police Station for help. By the time officers arrived, the boys were missing. Their bodies were discovered the following morning in bushes near the house.
Both the suspect and the children’s mother are now in custody, though investigators have clarified she is not their main focus. Previous reports said that the father turned up at the station and confessed to killing the toddlers after the bodies were discovered.