Shanelle Xavier, 14, of Madrelle who was reported missing on January 30 has returned home.
“Last night we received information somewhere about 8:00 pm that she returned home,” Police PRO, Assistant Superintendent Claude Weekes told the media on Wednesday.
Weekes said the Wesley High School student “seems to be intact.”
He stated that there were no “visible marks or any forms of distress or violence upon her.”
“But that we are not taking for granted,” he said. “We are continuing our investigations. We have set up and collaborating with the Welfare Division and our female police officers and other agencies to work with her to finding really and truly what is happening with this young 14-year-old.”
According to Weekes, within the space of time Xavier was missing “many things could have happened.”
“It means therefore we have to get to the bowels of this issue,” he said. “Why is she running from home? Is there any form of abuse? What is affecting her?”
Weekes said young children must be protected and stated that parents must be vigilant.
“Carnival is well on its way, it is picking up momentum minute by minute. You have a right to supervise your children and find out where they are going,” he noted.
Xavier was reported missing after she informed her brother that she was going to a shop to buy Ramen last Friday at around 10:30 pm and did not return.
Most of my comments receive there share of likes votes.
But I receive less when I write on problems within the homes or sexual child abuse within families.
In fact there are a significant number of dislike votes when I write on these matters.
It seems I am touching a nerve. There must be many homes that have serious problems. As a trained pastoral counselor I would like to offer help. But the response I receive suggests many troubled people do not want the kind of help that would require them to make changes in their lifestyle. If it sounds the least bit religious they go into defence mode.
This is sad because the present world system has nothing to offer. The behavioral sciences can tell you where the hole is and how deep it is. But if you have already fallen in they may not be able to get you out.
There is a healing balm for this sin sick world. His name is JESUS
His gospel is the answer to all our woes.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
Children feel safer when dad is around,so called brother,at that time of the night your sister going to shop,you accompanied her or tell her it is too late at night to go shop ,Can’t you wait for morning. how old is brother. Love,manners and respect for one another will do the trick
Right now she is safe I am happy for her and her family…But little GIRL/WOMAN you’re lucky that I am not your mamma….cause Nasief would go out of chen beff..I would tie you so tight even in the class room….I would sit and watch you make caca….and wash your little you know what… because if where you were was so nice and after all of that, to take your two little legs and walk back home all INTACTED, chances are you will go for and encore…you seem to have gone on her own free will. however if it was out of malice you should be dealt with according by even doing some community service…YOUR MAMMA SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO YOU or she will cry even more next time….COW CHAIN FOR YOU AND NO CARNIVAL EITHER….
A 14 year old missing?
I am writing as a concerned parent and grandparent to D.N.O. readers everywhere.
I expect often it starts out as a “fun”. A kid gets out there and starts having fun, sometimes at a friend’s home. Time gets away on them and suddenly they think it is too late to go home so they stay over. The next day they may be afraid to go home.
Children should know one or two trustworthy adults they can talk to if they are having trouble at home they cannot cope with. This could be a school teacher or counselor who has been carefully selected.
Children should be told to always let their parents know where they are going when they leave home.
Nobody should allow somebody else’s child to stay over night at their place without permission from their
parents. It is important to talk personally to a parent not take the child’s word for it.
I am concerned that this is happening so often to young girls.
Sincerely, Rev, Donald Hill. International…
The police and children welfare should investigate this matter very seriously because can’t just disappearing and returning home when they feel. If I was her parent she would be under heavy manners and let it be the first and the last.
The problem with us, is that we make too many excuses the younth . There could be a problem at home. But, we were once 14 years old, and we know what happens then, so stop making excuses, and blaming parents. We can be the best parents, but when they reach their teens, we no longer
control over them. No matter what we tell them, they will plan all types of excuses to meet a boy or their friends somewhere. She could have gone to meet the person, and remained there longer than she planned. We know this. I raised four children, and I went through hell when they became teens. It was not easy. These days children do not play skip, or hopscotch, is whatsApp , and chat, etc. Not even at school they have time to play marble hole. Who can we blame. We all need to do our share as parents, teachers, councilors, priests , pastors, etc. Disco owners are adults, but, do they stop teens from entering their dance. When they travel on buses, is another story. Everybody is need to…
U probably went through hell because u did not know when to let go and start giving them their independence
Over the past 2 weeks two young girls have gone missing only to resurface unscathed. This is no coincidence and these young girls must be questioned by the social services as to their whereabouts. Notice I said that they must be questioned by the social services and not the police. There is certainly a problem on the island and the social services if there is an effective one must work together with the police to solve these problems.
These young girls would have been at someone`s home, I think that we can all come to the conclusion that it would not have been at the home a of a responsible adult. So the authorities need to find out where they were and question these adults who they stayed with, man/woman.
Something is not right and we all know that this is not an isolated case. I do hope that these two recent cases which has been reported by DNO will be looked into and thoroughly investigated by he authorities.
If you all have not yet realized that time has changed on us and is well ahead of us ,you all won’t realize that anymore.
What we call kids today, they behave as adults and adults behave as kids…
Well done… Mama return home….
I guess you only have little boys. It is not too late to learn from your past mistakes. This kind of thinking needs to stop. I am sure you have sisters, cousins, or at least a wife or girlfriend. Wake up and start respecting young ladies.
the system is to blame for the way children are acting today. It is true that our parents have to move into the new age but the right that children are given today, ties the parent hand in the proper disciplining of their children. Family life education is very important today and should be taught in all our schools, however it they only address the sexual/ pregnancy part of it. What about communication, and redirection of our youth would need some constructive direction. what about resources for our young parents who need parenting classes, most of these things are lacking and our children who think they are in charge of their life acts up and the parents are being blame. Corporal punishment maybe harsh, and in some cases abusive, but i must say the modern system of time out is not working either, in fact in my OPINION i believe it make them worst.
Thank you Good ST. Anthony.. she has been found well and alive. praise god. Now the authorities needs to get hard on these investigations and if they were haboured by adults therefore we demand that these adults be sent to hard labor jail term. too many people suffering when one child is missing. let them pay hard for putting the entire island in pain. gosh man
Boy DA have ROWE ROWE papa.
I actually find the comments on this story ridiculous…investingating the home. blah blah blah. your home abusive you doe go by a grannie, you doe go by an aunty you doe go by an uncle? those children too fast every two weeks a child “running away from home” and suddenly running back?
Maybethese young ladies should be taught to take their time?
My only problem with this is when a young girl is really missing no one will care.
cause I have heard of similar incidents more than 5 times and when everybody looking for them they in their oil.
Well, she is back home, safe and sound. As for intact, I cannot vouch for that. What happened to her during her absence from home?
In my heart, I felt this was a runaway teenager and so I was not unduly concerned. This should not be the end of the investigation to also find out where was she and with whom for those days. She missed school.
I wonder what occurred that day or night or prior that she decided to leave home and at 10:30 pm.
Mr. Weekes, this is a serious matter. Directives will have to be issued to those who encourage teenagers and girls at that to leave their home and harbor them (without their parents consent) and that, they will be prosecuted by the Law of the land.
Teenagers, have respect for your parent(s) authority, discipline and advice. They are responsible for you. There should be another manner of solving your situation rather than leaving home and for some days. You are vulnerable to be in harm’s way. Therefore, remain at your home and learn to obey.
If she went and came back home on her home realizing that the police were in search for her that means that she went on her own will.I do not believe that it is problems at home dat caused her to leave but for her own pleasure
A fourteen year old cannot make decisions. If she was at someone else’s home I am sure it was not at another 14 year old home. There were adults involved here. Until we start holding those adults accountable nothing will change. A 14-year-old cannot give consent. How one thinks at 14 changes at 16 and definitely changes at 24 and 34.
Those hard back man-man out there that are afraid of enticing girls their own age are the problems in society. The welfare society need to take control because it is obvious that the parents do not have the foresight to know their rights in this situation. The mothers were abused at early ages so they are conditioned to not feel and not even recognize when their young daughters are in danger.
Make examples of these hard back men out there who are destroying our young girls. Start encouraging healthy, wholesome relationships. Teach it in schools. We cannot even depend on Sunday school anymore because we know what happens there!
DNO something is wrong with the site…I can only give Marguerite one vote
Nobody should allow a child to stay overnight at his or her home without first getting permission from the parents. The parents should find out who else is going to be in the home and what the sleeping arrangements are going to be. It is O.K. to ask!
You must TALK to at least one of the parents. It is not enough for the child to say they have permission to stay overnight. Unless you can talk to the mom or dad (and write down the name for future reference if you need it) YOU GET THAT CHILD HOME – and get them home before dark!
Unless these kids are staying in the streets all night they are most likely at a home. It would be unusual for there not to be adults in the place. Somewhere there are parents to blame for this breakdown in communications. If I found that somebody had kept a child of mine overnight without my permission and I did not know where he or she was I would be seriously considering laying a kidnapping charge.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International…
Thanks Mr Weekes but can you also please get into the bowels of the issue involving the rampant abuse, misuse and corruption which went on at the Labour Division as it relates to visas for Haitians. You are so selective as to what you choose to speak on. Aren’t you concerned about what went on there? You are always quick to jump on these issues involving ordinary Dominicans but you remain mute when it involves the BIG boys.
first and foremost. glad you are back safe and sound. it could have been much worse. Now. we need to investigate the home. I don’t know of kids leaving a loving home just so. Kids love convenience and if the home is stable, then there is convenience. so something strange may be happening in the house.
I beg to defer. There are children who have it all but because they want their own way and believe that the street loves them more than their family, they will do anything to get out, to go and experience, to make “their own” mistakes.
There are already too many of these mistakes
hanging out on the streets after dark.
Mom and dad know where your child is!
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
is ramen they be looking for…….i wonder why is in my area and other south areas they were looking for her smh smh
That disappear and return practice is becoming too prevalent and this behavior is slowly going viral. we are all adults here and we know the reasons why these young people leave there home and go. people dont leave their home and go for no reason. there might be running from as problem at home to find comfort or peace. but the brakes need to be pulled on these people who bring pain, shame and sleepless night to the entire population.
this trend needs to be crippled and all stake holders need to get unboard.it is disheartening.. just who and what next.. where and when… thanks god she appears safe.
children this days need alot of prayers
What a pretty daughter of the soil. No matter where she was, she’s home safe. Obviously there will and must be an investigation as to her whereabouts whilst she was missing. What a relief for the family, friends and well-wishers. Actually also the Police. Girl we’re happy that our prayers were answered. Welcome back home. We love you!!!
I hope an example is made out of someone for this “cry wolf” practice. When someone is really in need of the police assistance for a just cause I hope the same level of effort will be put. Little girls stop this NONSENSE now you all go play ti-mama and have the world wondering where you all are.
What do you mean only in D A is DA the worst place in the world.
Well said Mr.Weekes !
Lmao. Parents should take her to the clinic after taking her to the police station, after getting a vohlay for disappearing for how much days. if it was me my parents and grandparents would have broken my legs, or tried their hardest to. The worry and headache her parents must have gone through.
I am horrified at the amount of violence expressed in these comments. Many of you need to learn disciplinary skills. A physical beating is not indicated here. Perhaps she should be grounded for a week. No T.V. or internet! Time spent in her room! This young lady should be talked to and made to understand how parents worry when a child is missing.
I recommend counselling to find out where she was and what actually took place. This is what should be focused on. Work at making it right.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist. (Pastoral Counsellor Certificate).
Glad you’re home sweety pie, i’m glad nothing happened to to… no go get the belt and come tell me where you come out.
th3 amount of thumps up this comment had gotten is sad… violently beating a 14 year old… f feet nine inches… my God.. I have given up..to think of beating a teenager???
Nothing violent there, you just have too tell me where you go for 5 nights? and if you forget… the belt there too jog de memory? nothing wrong with that…all of us does forget every now an den eh. but the belt have a thing that does make you remember
maybe the belt is the reason she left in the first place
da is nt no reason
Seriously u two above seriously. I agree get thr the damn belt. Spear the rod spoil the child. The amount of frying pan my mother would send behind me eh. Is allu ppl kids that does turn out the worst when allu have dem so. Buss her skin self
There is a time and place to use the rod but this is not it.
All behavior is motivated. You need to find out WHY the child left home and work on the cause to stop it from happening again. Violence begets violence and will only compound the problem and increase the likelihood of a repeat performance.
Often it is nothing more than an outing and a quest for fun. When they are having a good time they are simply not time conscious. They have no idea how much parents worry.
Unfortunately children do not always feel comfortable at home. If there is shouting, fighting, or any kind of abuse in the home they may look for any chance to get away. A disappearance for a day or two can simply be that the child is trying his her wings. These children often enter into harmful relationships because of their craving for love and security. Their own children begin the cycle over again and the madness continues.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
she is a beautiful girl … i hope she receives the proper guidance that she needs
Proper guidance not a beating!
Some of these commentators need a good beating themselves.
I cannot imagine anybody wanting to hurt this little girl. This is enough to make any child want to leave home.
There is a terrible lack of parenting skills in so many homes today. Part of it is caused by the way the parents were raised. Violence begets violence. The abused becomes an abuser. We have single women with no husband struggling to raise a child or children who have no father figure. Lack causes resentment which creates anger which results in frustration resulting in physical abuse.
Soon there is an unstable society with mental health issues and substance abuse problems and we are calling in the experts to help us cope. They tell us what we need is an organization to appoint a committee to research the problems.
What we really need is the Word of God (the Bible) taught in the homes, churches, and schools
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.
like i said… i blame the parents they are either too strict or not strict enough
not strict enuf
Some are not strict enough.
Some are too strict.
many simply do not give a %&@#
Seriously, Rev. Donald Hill, International Evangelist
Some are not strict enough.
Some are too strict.
many simply do not give a %&@#
Seriously, Rev. Donald Hill, International Evangelist.
Welcome come home,we all been worried about you,in future tell someone your way abouts in case of emergency
Hmmmm….only in DA
pray for our children
thank you God she is alive
subject her to a complete physical and mental evaluation
lord hear our prayers.
It’s becoming a habit now. Nonsense!!!!!!
especially dey doin it!!
She get the ramen na?
Hahahaha best comment ever!
But seriously, I hope that she will be ok and that she wasn’t running away from a problem. You never know in this world. Talk to someone sweetheart.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…… children children children
seems like allu them lil 14 and 15 year old taking it for jokes now.allu think allu big womento just leave home and have allu family worried and not only allu family but the whole country.when allu going …..inform people eh cause this isn’t funny.
d look dey does be lookin for dem dr
She did tell her brother,she was going to ramen,but not how far the ramen was.
she return “in tact”…. so nothing was missing.. nothing was damaged… she was “in tact”…
awa, check that again. that doe intact “a tal”
So this is now a trend…..hmmmm.. May God bless our country.
I kno eh and dey getting all kinds of excuse ramen she was goin for
Weekes said the Wesley High School student appeared “to be intact.” What is that ASP Weekes? As PRO for the CDPF, and from a law enforcement perspective, where does “intact” fit into the legal framework?
That’s DA English for you. I had a good SMH when I read that too.
in other words she didn’t have any marks of violence on her body….what happen you even more ‘grammar nazi’ than me now man?
If you ‘Google’ the meaning of ‘intact’, have a knowledge as to how investigations are conducted into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a minor, you will know in what context ASP Weeks used the term ‘intact’.
People want to know what is meant by intact.
Obviously some readers do not think this is clinical enough!
We wonder if a physical exam or a psychological evaluation was even done.
If so the results are not our business. In fact they should be kept as confidential as possible. But it would be satisfying just to know that these cases are being given the time and attention they deserve. Whatever knowledge is gained should be used as the basis for proper treatment so it does not happen again and to prevent future cases. Children are our most precious possessions. They are the future of the nation.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill, D.D., International Evangelist.
Investigate what incident?? Ask her how far she had to go for the ramen!!! My girl, next time come up with a better excuse than that eh!!
Common sense will tell you the ramen had little to do with her disappearance.
Even IF it was the reason she left the house it was soon the last thing on her mind.
You need to ask who she met. But love and kindness is the only way to get the answers. This child does not need to be beat up – not even verbally. It is a stage she is at in her young life. She will move on. With proper help she can move in the right direction.
Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. International Evangelist.