Family worries after schizophrenic St James man goes missing

WESTERN BUREAU:

Chantelle Clarke has one wish, and that is to find her 29-year-old schizophrenic brother, Answain Clarke, who has been missing in Montego Bay, St James, since May 5.

According to Chantelle, Answain was last seen exiting a taxi near the clock on Barnett Street. She told The Gleaner that her brother was returning home to Salt Spring after spending two weeks with family in Springfield. She said he exited the taxi and indicated that he would complete his journey on foot, but no one has seen him since.

Chantelle further explained that the family members became alarmed after their mother, who resides overseas, realised that she had not heard from Answain. Though he lived alone, The Gleaner understands that his mother has access to the cameras at the house.

“When my mom realised that she hadn’t seen him at the house, or get any calls from him, she called the lady that he stayed with, and that’s when she said he went home on Monday. She explained what I just mentioned in regard to him coming out of the taxi at the clock. However, our mom checked the camera, and he was not at home. There has been no sighting of him at home, and nobody has seen him since,” said Chantelle.

Noting that this isn’t the first time Answain has gone missing, Chantelle stated that their family is concerned because he has never left for more than three days. She stated that Answain had previously informed his family that he “needs to clear his head”, but he has always returned home.

“Sometimes he would go to different parishes, but he would communicate with someone, and they would always call me. Someone would always call and say, ‘Oh, I saw this lovely young man. He’s on the road, and he was telling me about his family.’ So he’s somebody who will express himself by telling you about himself and his family,” she said.

A FULL LIFE

Before his schizophrenia diagnosis, about two years ago, Chantelle said her younger brother led a full life, including a promising position as a manager at a St James-based resort. He was reportedly energetic and enjoyed spending time with his little son. However, she told The Gleaner that Answain fell unwell during the coronavirus outbreak.

“He’s hard-working, and always going out there to make sure he takes care of himself and his family. He takes good care of his son. He did well in school. He was a part of the football team when he went to Green Pond High School. He was active in church as well at one point before he got sick. He would also do YouTube ministering, but since COVID, I don’t know what changed, but everything just transitioned,” said Chantelle.

Meanwhile, Chantelle told The Gleaner that her family is hurting emotionally as they seek to locate her brother. She stated that their suffering has been exacerbated by stories of dead bodies being discovered across the island. She explained that people have called to say that her brother was found dead; however, the police have not confirmed this statement.

“It’s been hard because, honestly, we don’t know where to turn. I’m in Kingston, my mom is in England, and we barely have any family members in Jamaica to rally around. To be traversing from Kingston to Montego Bay is kind of hard because I’m a parent.”

IN LIMBO

“We don’t know who to ask, or where to look, so we’re just here in limbo. We’ve been getting dreams, and then people have been reaching out saying this and that; and it’s frustrating because every day someone is coming up with another story. People are not understanding enough to know that we are dealing with something. We don’t know where he is. We don’t know what’s going on, and they’re just saying anything that comes to mind. I mean, it’s crazy,” Chantelle stated.

Answain’s six-year-old son has always been questioning his father’s whereabouts, Chantelle told The Gleaner.

“The little boy said he had a dream that his father was roaming around hungry and slim,” she said.

Answain was reported missing at the Freeport Police Station and has since been featured on the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s social media pages. Anyone with information on Answain’s whereabouts is asked to contact the Montego Bay Police at (876) 684-9090, call the police 119 emergency number, or visit the nearest police station.

rochelle.clayton@gleanerjm.com