Lilliput mourns 13-y-o student found dead at home

WESTERN BUREAU:

The quiet district of Bugs Bunny in Lilliput, St James, was plunged into mourning following Thursday’s tragic death of 13-year-old Twaine Jaheem Skyers, a second-form student at Hopewell High School in Hanover.

The teen’s lifeless body was found in a bathroom at his home, where he had locked himself in after being punished for coming home late from school. The police are investigating his death as a possible case of suicide.

When The Gleaner visited the community yesterday, family members were, seemingly, in a state of shock. One of Twaine’s relatives was deeply distressed by the circumstances that preceded his death, especially reports that he was beaten for coming home late from school.

“If I had any idea that the beating that he got could have led to his death, I would have prevented it,” said the relative, who asked not to be named.

According to the relative, Twaine, who lived with his mother and aunt, was flogged because he did not get home ahead of a 5 p.m. deadline. He was said to be a repeat offender.

With school being dismissed at 2:40 p.m., Twaine was instructed to get home by 5:00 p.m. However, on Thursday, he did not get home until after 6:00 p.m., which prompted the beating he got.

While The Gleaner was at the child’s home, his mother showed up, but efforts to speak to her proved futile as she was clearly distraught despite the efforts of relatives and community members to console her.

Val Rose, Twaine’s aunt, described him as a playful and affectionate child who was easy to like.

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“He is a jovial little boy who loves to play, especially with girls. He is protective of his mom and his aunt. If he hears anyone arguing with us, he would step in and say, ‘Leave my mom or my aunt alone,’” she told The Gleaner.

Rose said Twaine’s mother doted on him, often prioritising his happiness over household needs.

“He is the only child for his mother, so she overloved him. She had money to tile the house but put that aside to buy him expensive shoes. She bought him a school bag for $15,000, and when he gave it away to another child, she still bought him another one,” said Rose.

Police reports indicate that Skyers is suspected to have died at around 7:30 p.m. His mother discovered his body in the shower.

Yesterday, Reverend Sherion McDonald-Small, of the Lilliput New Testament Church, visited the grieving family to offer spiritual support.

“For a mother to lose her only child, I can’t even imagine that pain,” she said. “I am just here to offer empathy, sympathy, and prayer. I am here to listen and to offer comfort where possible, to say to the family, you are not alone. Give them the freedom to grieve. Give them the freedom to express themselves, and let us learn to comfort them.”

The administrators at Hopewell High School confirmed that Twaine was enrolled there but declined further comment, saying that they needed clearance from the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information to speak about him.

Amid the grieving, some residents felt the deadline that Skyers was given was too rigid, considering the distance from the school to his home, which required taking one bus from the school to Hopewell Square, one from Hopewell Square to Montego Bay, and one from Montego Bay to Lilliput – 23 miles in total plus the waiting time in Hopewell Square and in Montego Bay,

albert.ferguson@gleanerjm.com