JAMAICA | Paulwell heartbroken over the murder of his daughter and her mother

MONTEGO BAY,  October 15, 2023 - People's National Party Member of Parliament for East Kingston and Port Royal, Phillip Paulwell, has condemned what he describes as the ‘unimaginable’ murder of his 10-month-old daughter Sarayah, and her mother 27-year-old Toshyna Patterson. 

In a statement on Saturday, Paulwell said  "The past few weeks have been extremely difficult for me as I grappled with the abduction of my daughter and her mother." 

However, Paulwell said nothing could have prepared him for the events that unfolded since last week Thursday.

"I am heartbroken that the worst has happened," he said, adding that he had "prayed unceasingly" for their safe return.

"That anyone could murder a mother and an innocent baby is unimaginable, and my heart is heavy with sadness," said Mr Paulwell. 

"I am praying for Toshyna's family, who I know are experiencing the unbearable grief and pain of losing their beloved daughter and granddaughter. 

As a human being, father, lawyer, and legislator I am hoping that all who were involved are brought to justice and punished to the fullest extent of the law."

"I cannot comment on the investigations nor matters before the court, but I wish to thank the police for their tireless work," he said, and expressed gratitude to the "many Jamaicans" who have been generous in their prayers as well as their "kind and thoughtful expressions of love, support, and solidarity" for him and his family.

The East Kingston and Port Royal MP said he has been in constant dialogue with the police and has cooperated fully with the investigation.

The police believe they located the burnt remains of the mother and daughter in a section of east Kingston last week.

A woman, who also shares a child with Mr Paulwell, Leoda Bradshaw, and three men have been charged with the murder of Sarayah and Toshyna.

Court documents have since indicated Ms Bradshaw put a bounty on the head of the mother and daughter and entered Jamaica early in September with the sole purpose of carrying out a hit.

Mr Paulwell said he hopes those murdered receive justice.

Mr Paulwell sent his support to the Toshyna’s family. While Mr Paulwell said he can’t comment on a matter before the courts, he thanked the police for their work.

He also thanked the public for their support since Toshyna and Sarayah were reported missing on September 9.

Paulwell said his heart is heavy with sadness and expressed hope that the individuals now charged with their kidnapping and murder be "punished to the fullest extent of the law".

Last Friday, Leoda Bradshaw, a US Navy petty officer with whom Paulwell sired a now eight-year-old child, appeared in the Supreme Court after being charged with two counts of conspiracy to kidnap, two counts of conspiracy to murder, two counts of kidnapping, and two counts of capital murder.

According to the Crown, Bradshaw, after learning about the existence of Paulwell's 10-month-old daughter on September 5, 2023, contacted Patterson on Facebook and informed her that she was Paulwell's spouse and advised Patterson that a DNA test should be done to determine the paternity of the child.

the prosecution said, Bradshaw, who lives overseas, travelled to Jamaica the very next day, September 6, 2023 "for the sole purpose of killing Toshyna Patterson and the young child she shared with her spouse".

The Crown also alleged that Bradshaw, through her cousin and co-accused Roland Balfour, contracted men to kidnap and murder Patterson and Sarayah.

According to prosecutors, Bradshaw met with Miller and Brown to arrange for the kidnappings and murders. The original plan was to kidnap Patterson and the baby from their home. Bradshaw, prosecutors told the court, paid the men the equivalent of J$100,000 in United States currency as downpayment for the execution of the crime. The remainder of the funds ($400,000) was to be paid after the completion of the deal.

Prosecutors said that on Saturday, September 9, Bradshaw "placed several calls and conversed with Patterson, with a view to lure her away from her premises".

She afterwards arrived at Patterson's home at approximately 7:00 am that day.

"Evidentiary material shows Patterson exiting her premises and entering an SUV parked at her gate, along with her baby. Evidentiary material shows that she remained in this vehicle for over 15 minutes.

The vehicle then drove off and left the area approximately 7:22 am. Patterson and Sarayah never exited the vehicle prior to its leaving," the prosecutor told presiding Supreme Court judge, Justice Simone Wolfe-Reece on Friday.

The Crown's case is that Bradshaw took Patterson to Stony Hill in the vicinity of the home where she, Bradshaw, was staying, handed over Patterson and her young child to Brown and other individuals who are yet to be apprehended. "After this, Patterson and her young child were taken to Warieka Hills where they were shot and killed and their bodies burned," the court was told.