Missing girl surfaces

Dec 24, 2008 News

– Police awaiting results of medical examination

After being missing for over one week 13-year-old Janet Mendonca, also known as Mursha, has been found, a development which has since prompted the involvement of the police.
On Sunday last the girl’s father, Jamesie Mendonca, a resident of Lot 41 Alness, Corentyne, reported that she went missing after accompanying her migrating mother to the Cheddi Jagan International Airport.
According to the man, his daughter should have returned on the same day in the company of two adult relatives, but a request was made by one of his elder daughters, Ann Varon, who resides in the city, for her (Mursha) to remain in the city for two days.
However, the man said that he was subsequently informed that his teenage daughter was not at her sister’s residence, and no one knew of her whereabouts.
The man said that he was initially optimistic that the child was in the care of one of her mother’s relatives in the city, but was dismayed to find out they had not seen her since the trip to the airport.
He had reported that his daughter, a second-form student of the Comprehensive School in Port Mourant, does not know her way around the city, thus he feared immensely for her wellbeing.
But it was following the publication of the man’s story in last Monday’s edition of this newspaper that persons began calling Jamesie Mendonca’s eldest daughter, Sharon, on a telephone number which was published.
According to Sharon several persons reported that the child was seen in Kitty in the company of some older males whom they believed had sexually molested her.
Also on the day of the publication the child was dropped off at her sister’s (Ann Varon’s) home.
It was related to this newspaper that the men who are not known to the girl invited her to visit a house they occupy in Kitty. Reports are that the men may have sexually molested Mursha over the period of time that she was missing, but may have become scared after seeing the publication in the newspaper.
As a result they took her to her sister’s home.
Ann Varon contacted her father informing him that Mursha had arrived at her home Monday morning, a disclosure which relieved him of a week’s worth of distress in knowing that she was alive and well.
But his distress resumed after learning that his youngest child was sexually molested. The matter was brought to the attention of the Welfare Department, Sharon related, adding that it was recommended that the child be medically examined, with her undergoing HIV and pregnancy tests.
It was also recommended that Mursha undergo counselling to deal with the experience that she was made to endure.
Police have since commenced investigating the matter and are awaiting the results of the tests before making an arrest, Sharon added.