Family still optimistic two years after British man goes missing in St Bess
Published:Saturday | January 18, 2025 | 12:09 AMSashana Small/Staff Reporter
Nearly two years have passed since British citizen Cedric Mitchell disappeared in Jamaica, but his family remains hopeful he will be found. However, they are frustrated with what they describe as the slow and apathetic response of the Jamaican police in their search efforts.
Maxine Mitchell told The Gleaner that her brother, who had divided his time between Jamaica and England for 22 years, went missing from his home on Nation Road in Pepper district, St Elizabeth, on July 29, 2023.
She said she was alerted to his disappearance when her 56-year-old brother, who she said is usually very active on his phone, failed to respond to her messages and calls.
Ms Mitchell said a friend of her brother made a report to the Santa Cruz Police Station, but the police required a relative of the missing man to corroborate the story.
As a result, she travelled to Jamaica on September 29, 2023, and made the report. She remained on the island for 11 months, desperate to find her brother and to provide any assistance she could to the security forces.
However, she was discouraged by the attitude of the officers enlisted.
“The investigating officer has been changed a few times. The last investigating officer has not been engaging,” she said.
Distressed by the slow progress, and growing despondent, she said the family even sought the services of a private investigator, but there has been no success on his end either.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Jamar Stoner, in charge of crime in St Elizabeth, told The Gleaner that the British High Commission is being kept up to date with the investigation into Mr Mitchell’s disappearance, and had indicated they would speak with his family members.
He noted that the police have exhausted all channels in trying to find Mr Mitchell, and are seeking any information from the public that could help in finding him.
“After a certain amount of time passes, the information is harder to obtain, and that’s the problem that they are facing; no new leads to follow,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ms Mitchell said her brother has six children; three adults who live in England and three teenagers from his marriage to a Jamaican woman.
He reportedly divorced his Jamaican wife in 2015.
She added that he worked as a truck driver in England and sold art. He was in the process of setting up a tour business before his disappearance.
“This is not like my brother to go missing like that, he is a career man,” she said.
Describing her brother as very helpful and kind, she said his disappearance has taken a huge toll on his family, especially his 87-year-old mother.
“I have two hopes: [one] that he is alive, and the second that, if he isn’t, we will find him and we will bring him or bury him ... where he loved the most, and where he loved the most is Jamaica.”