The body of a young, half naked boy discovered in bushes at the rear of D. W. Davis Junior High School on Saturday is believed to be that of Devon Arthur Knowles Jr., according to Chief Superintendent of Police Hulan Hanna.
Affectionately known as ﾑDJﾴ, the nine-year-old was reportedly last seen by relatives last Wednesday.
Mr. Hanna was unable, however, to say definitively that the body was that of the missing boy.
The boyﾴs murder and the reported disappearance of two other boys have some people extremely concerned as the murders of five boys on Grand Bahama last year still remain fresh in the minds of many. ﾠ
Mr. Hanna said Sunday that police are treating the gruesome discovery on Saturday as the countryﾴs 16th murder for the year and police were following ﾓpositive leadsﾒ in connection with the matter.
The youngster was found lying face down in bushes north of Rolleﾴs Avenue around 1:15 p.m., according to police.
A group of concerned residents searching for the boy stumbled across the body in the bushy area between Topﾴs Lumberyard and St. Georgeﾴs Park, Mr. Hanna said.
ﾓAt the time of the incident, there was a blue jean pants near the body. ﾠOther than that, he was clad in a white undershirt. ﾠOne foot of black slippers was found nearby,ﾒ he added.
Devonﾴs mysterious disappearance had left family members distraught and police officials puzzled.
According to a family member, the boy left home around 6 oﾴclock on the morning of June 23 to attend basketball practice.
His grand mother, Lynette Bowleg, told the Journal late last week that he was an honour roll student at Dandy Lionﾴs Pre & Primary School.
ﾓItﾴs a real strange situation for us because this is not in his character. He is not a child that would just get up and walk out of the house,ﾒ she said. ﾓI canﾴt understand why anyone would want to do something to such a small child.ﾒ
Meanwhile, police are searching for the two other boys who were reported missing by their guardian on Saturday night.
At about 9:15 pm, police received a missing persons report from Alteus Raymond, the guardian of Stephen Deles, 10, and Dario Joseph, 8. ﾠ
According to Mr. Raymond, the boys left their Majorﾴs Subdivision home, off Collinﾴs Avenue on Friday at 10 am ﾠMr. Raymond said he has not seen or heard from the boys since.
Mr. Hanna said police are concerned that Mr. Raymond took almost two days before reporting the boys missing. ﾠﾠ
ﾓPolice are not certain at this point why this man would have taken so long to report that these two children went missing from Friday morning,ﾒ he said.
Mr. Hanna said the boys are living with Mr. Raymond, a relative, as their mother died while in Haiti and their father is reportedly paralyzed. ﾠ
Mr. Hanna also sent a stern warning to parents to be aware of their childrenﾴs whereabouts at all times, particularly during school breaks.
ﾓChildren being who they are would gravitate to open spaces and bushy areas where the boys would probably play hide-and-seek or even relieve themselves,ﾒ he said. ﾓWe want to advise parents to be extremely cautious. ﾠParents need to take their responsibilities seriously.ﾒ
Mr. Hanna said children should be left supervised by a responsible adult. ﾠ
ﾓParents should know where these children are and whose company they are inﾅto leave children home alone who are underage is inviting problems,ﾒ he said. ﾓYouﾴre looking at fires, children wondering from home and getting into mischief or some twisted-minded adult molesting these children.ﾒ ﾠ
Hadassah Hall and Rogan Smith, The Bahama Journal
