TrinidadAndTobagoNews.com Reporters
June 17, 2009 – Updated: 12:15 PM
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com
Ten-year-old Tecia Henry, who was missing for four days, has been found dead and buried in a shallow grave beneath a house in Plaisance Terrace, Laventille. The body was discovered by a C.E.P.E.P. crew around 8:30 this morning.
The partially decomposed body was found semi-nude and it is suspected that strangulation had a part to play in her death.
A short while after the body’s discovery, residents of the community gathered and some attempted to take their anger out on a community leader who they felt should have known something about the disappearance and murder of the child. Police fired shots in the air to disperse the crowd.
Up to noon, the District Medical Officer and a forensic team was at the scene to remove the body and to further their investigation to determine the actual cause and time of her death.
Heavily armed police are currently in the area and four men have been detained in connection with the young girl’s death.
Tecia Henry, who lived on Essex Street John-John with her mother, Diane Henry and attended the St. Rose’s Girls’ primary school, had been missing since Saturday. She was sent to a nearby parlour for a few items but never returned home. The owner of the shop said that he did see Tecia but told her to come back in a few minutes when the shop was open. The last that was seen of the young Henry was by residents who observed her walking in the direction of her home.
After reports of the missing Tecia was made to the police and there was not an immediate response to look for the child, residents of the community engaged in protest as they did not believe the police was treating the matter with urgency. Following days of heated protests, National Security Minister Martin Joseph and acting Police Commissioner James Philbert visited Tecia’s mother, Diane, on Monday evening to assure her that they were utilizing all resources available to them in their effort to locate Tecia. Crime Stoppers also issued a $10,000 reward for information leading to the whereabouts of Tecia.
Unfortunately, neither protest nor the efforts of the police were able to save the life of Tecia.
Related News: June 18, 2009
‘Why kill my child’
Gunshots rang out in Laventille when news broke that the body of little Tecia Henry had been found murdered beneath a neighbour’s house yesterday.
Tecia’s tragic end
Bullets fly, tempers flare as body of missing schoolgirl found in Laventille
Please, stop the war!
Loved by the John John community, Tecia Henry, a Standard Four student of the St Rose’s Girls’ Primary School in Port-of-Spain, was looking forward to her 11th birthday party next Thursday.
Martin Joseph shaken: ‘I’m a parent too’
Girl’s murder saddens Joseph
NATIONAL SECURITY Minister Martin Joseph yesterday said he was deeply saddened by the brutal murder of ten-year-old Tecia Henry.
Riot in John John as Tecia’s body found
Angry women ‘attack’ police; Philbert sets up post
The women of Laventille vented their rage over the murder of Tecia Henry, ten, fearlessly in challenging the police who tried to calm them down.
Govt looks for home for Tecia’s family
…She was kind, loving, says teacher
78 children still missing in T&T
Panday: Criminals feel they can get away with anything here
Trinidad and Tobago News Blog – URL for this article:
www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/blog/?p=1238
Im deeply sadened by this outcome and my stomach aches. Im a mother of two successful children ages 22 and 20 yrs old and is humbly blessed to have them alive despite the odds in todays’ world. My deepest condolences to the twin sisters and other relatives, however when will we be civil to stop the wars, instead of having the innocent angels pay the price for our[adults] behaviour. Once again my deepest of sympathy to the family. Tecia rest in pease baby.
this is so sad…she was found under some steps chopped and allegedely raped…it happened close to my place of work…what is this country comming to….we need to pray and accept god into our lives…. R.I.P Tecia Henry
Whoever did this to such an adorable little girl is one sick bastered..R.I.P. little angel….
It is very sad to hear of the news of that young innocent child Tecia death. My blood crawl I have children too who lives in T&T. As a mother I don’t know what I will do if I was in her shoes God forbid.. God Blessing and faith for her mother and two sisters.
To the society of T&T the culture of silence is contributing towards this carnage in our society and these young children are paying the price of our silence. The community are responsible for the ills and the illness in there community. “”SOMEBODY KNEW SOMETHING’
May she RIP.
whoever did this shall rot in hell. how on earth can someone do such a cruel act to this child, an innocent child. what has happened to the people of trinidad??? what could this child have done to you for her death….its really sad. my heart goes out to little Tecia family. R.I.P dear one
Only God knows what this once beautiful & sweet T & T is coming to. As i sit at my work place still numb it breaks my heart to think that an adult can be so heartless and cruel. WHY, thats the question that keeps popping up in my head, WHY commit such a wicked act towards a child, WHY,WHY,WHY?
May god be with the family of this child in their time of grief,please note that you are not alone because the rest of the country is in mourning as well.
R.I.P. baby cousin… from your cousin in the U.S.
Y WHAT DID A 10YEAR OLD DO TO END UP LIKE THIS MAY GOD BE WITH HER LOVE ONE AT THIS TIME
RIP LITTLE TECIA
i hoppe they find the demons who did this to this beautiful, innocent baby and hand them all. RIP little tecia. My condolences goes out to the family
May God grant her family peace at this time. I also pray for the perpetrator. May God convict and deliver that person(s) from the demons in their lives so that they will not commit such a crime again. God is still in control and a day is coming when we all have to stand trembling before HIM!
TECIA, MAY YOU REST IN THE ARMS OF YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER!
Chris Smith (USA)
This is really hard an sad,how could people b so heartless to do such evil act 2 an innocent kid.I have been followin up on wats goin on bcuz i am from dat area,it is too painful.God wat is goin on in tnt,i pray for dis family an hope they catch these wicked animals who consider themselves 2 b humans but they r not.I hope the authorities does something serious about all these crime in these areas.too many good people r getting hurt,i pray for her life dat was cut short,may her soul rest in peace an may god guide her family.
It is hard to believe that good will surely prevail one day when so many wrong things are happening and yet nothing is being done and the criminals walk free to continue their mayhem on other innocent souls.
What does our ‘dear’ PM have to say about all this? If this was a relative of his how would he feel? Wake up Mr. PM! Is it too late to save out precious T&T?
I cannot begin to imagine what this child went through and what her parents are going through right now. This morning a caller on a radio station made a comment that parents are the ones that are getting themselves involved in gangs and that their children are paying the price. Is this true? Surely an innocent like this child had nothing to do with a gang!
To the murderers that inflicted their treachery upon this child, may they suffer for the rest of thier lives, may the face of Lecia haunt them to their death beds and beyond. I can only hope that these demons do not have children and that they never know the joy of having any!
RIP Precious Angel…
this is a heart aching issue that is constantly swept beneath the carpet… ppl only tend to find a relevance to these situations wen it is in their playig fiel .. we the ppl of T&T need to wake up and find these offenders… tell me how can a little innocent child cause u to be arouse in do such an injustice.. wat pride is there in killin our future.. is there a award for doin this these offender are dead to me in my book.. but they need to be sentence to life torture jus as how they torture tese innocent children … i have younger siblings and it hurts me to kno that these ppl o all out to kill these children… Sean Luke, Hope, Tecia and the others who were found and those who weren’t even found i pray dat they R.I.P.. and these SICKO VILE EVIL WICKED WORTHLESS HUMANS DAT COMMIT THE ACTS …. I PRAY DAT GOD DEALS WITH U ALL!!!
My heart goes out to the family of Tecia Henry, I am heart broken about the news as I sit at my job in New york reading this, I was hoping for a miracle for this precious innocent baby, I don’t know why people take their frustration out on children, the person or persons WILL get caught soon and they will have to answer to a much higher power. RIP in peace princess Tecia
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Henry family. As a parent I cannot fathom the thought of losing my son or daughter who have grown thus far. Nothing could comfort a parent(s) when he/she loses a child, especially a child at this age and the gruesome act that was carried upon this young life. I cannot even imagine the pain and suffering this young life had to endure while in the hands of the “the devil’s sporn”. When will our Law Enforcement get off their lazy behinds and earn their pay by protecting the citizens of my beloved country. I am sick and tired of hearing about the crime in my country; many miles away I wonder what I can do to combat this growing problem. I have to agree with “Yorubawoman” – citizens of Trinidad & Tobago rise up and begin protesting, come out in countless numbers and demand from your elected officials’ accountability for what is going on. How it is that government can create millions of dollars to accommodate a U.S. President and his entourage, but will not, will not, will not protect their own citizens.
Rest in peace little “Angel” – you were taken from us too early
I was hoping they would find this child and praying that her mother would get her child back safe but it once again proves that the devil’s people are still at work and we must all pray for all in tnt especially the children.What monsters could hurt little children like this ?prayers go out to her family,she is with the lord now.
Oh God, Oh God, Oh God!
If the shop had not yet opened, it was Saturday morning, and not evening. To think that a baby like this could disappear in broad daylight, and no one knows anything until she is found dead?
I recommend that the police position themselves in Laventille, one every quarter of a mile, backed up by army and even coast guard officers, prison officers and firemen who could be spared, and keep the pressure up on everyone until someone talks.
Also, and I am serious about this, it is time every child under fourteen in TnT be equipped, at state expense, with a steel bracelet that cannot be easily removed, that can serve as a tracking device if the child is snatched. This would not guarantee their safety totally, but it would mean that an abductor will have to remove the bracelet, which buys the child some time. We need too, to train our children to scream long and loud if a stranger gets to within three feet of them, while alone. All children should be instructed in school, on simple safety precautions. When I was a child, cars were the danger. Eery day we were reminded of how to cross the street safely. When bush fires were a problem, there were organized campaigns to remind us not to burn our land.
Can we not do something, collectively, to save our children?
I am not an advocate of the death penalty, and have said so over and over. In cases like this, and for Luke, Amy and Hope, I take it back. Execution will move molesters to a place where they could try to molest Satan and his minions. Just make sure we have the right persons first.
I am so sorry, words can’t express what her parents have to go throughat this moment. May God be with them. RIP Tecia
My hearts goes out to Tecia Henry family i in grief too young people are jus gone for life its sad in t&t her relly sad lost to a child. i jus sharing the tears of the family been lost a nice child like that jus gone.My smpathy to Tecia family and the community in mourning.
R.I.P. TECIA HENRY…….. THE PERSON WHO DID THIS IS VERY SICK AND WICKED,CURE AND HAS NO HEART………AND TOMORROW IS THE LITTLE GIRL`S BIRTHDAY……….GIRL U ARE IN ARE BETTER PLACE NOW………. UR FAMILY AND LOVE ONES ARE STILL WIT U!!!!!!!!!
Trouble, Trouble the whole world in trouble. I just want to ask the nation to seeking the true and living God.
I am so ashame off my country.What did this little innocent little child do to anybody i cant even imagine what this child went through before she gave her last breath . Mom and Dad cheer up, cheer up i feel your pain right now.I hope they dont stay long to find the murderer or murderers and let the public deal with them before the court do because i know when the people finish the court wont have no one to try.
R.I.P she’s now a little angel in the hands of her father. peace be with her family
My condolences go out to the family of Tecia, also her classmates. I am deeply saddened by this situation. Satan is very busy, because he knows that his time is getting shorter. I hope and pray we take stock of our lives and try to put God first instead of making the devil control our lives. May God be with the family.
how d hell dey cud do a child dat people realy have no heart. god go have 2deal with them. R.I.P. (TECIA)
i do not think that words can really describe this heinous deed. we are no longer our brothers keeper and this has led to open season on every one even the innocent ones who cannot defend themselves. It is unbelievable that in such a densely populated area that no one has seen anything. what a society.
Sad for Tecia. I lost count how many kids have gone missing from last year to now as a result of UNFIT parents careless mistakes. Innocent children dying because you parents just allowing them to freely walk into the lion’s den. Enough already wake up parents you have a responsibility to your children.
This is what happens when a nation forsake GOD ALMIGHTY.
I am deeply saddened and hurt that a child should suffer such a horrible end,parents find comfort in this WORD ,THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
is in total control of every situation and circumstances in our lives.Tecia is with him now,but woe,woe to those evil murderers…
I am deeply sadden by this brutal act against this young innocent child. No child deserve such disdainful act to be inflicted upon them. My heart goes out to Tecia’s family and as a country we morn with you. To parents, please guard your children. They are precious diamonds. This is a new crime we are fighting. And don’t ever thing for once that it can never happen to you.
sorry for the lost of this child who did no wrong….as for the person or people who did this i hope that your life is not spared.