Another student of the Mason Hall Secondary School has gone missing, the second student from the school in a week.
Relatives of 14-year-old Form Two student Shenel Forbes say she has been missing since Monday afternoon. Forbes left her Darrell Spring home at 6.23 am for school but never arrived there.
Her mother, Denise Tobias, told the T&T Guardian Shenel has never done anything like this before. She described her as an outspoken and brave child who did not take nonsense.
Tobias said she became concerned when Forbes did not return home at the regular time of 4 pm and calls to her cellphone went unanswered.
She said checks at the school revealed she never turned up for classes and a report was made to the Scarborough police. Tobias, a single parent, said she has health problems and is unable to cope with her child's disappearance.
"I am not a well person. I suffer with my pressure and since Monday night I have not slept. I can't eat because my mind is on my child. Honestly speaking, Shenel has never done anything like this," Tobias said.
Asked if there was any connection between her daughter and her missing schoolmate, Shulease De Gale, Tobias said: "When the other girl went missing last week I asked Shenel if she knew her and she said she only knew her by her face but they were not friends. I just don't know what is going on now."
Up to yesterday, De Gale remained missing.
Teachers and students at Mason Hall Secondary remained puzzled at the sudden disappearance of both girls yesterday.
In August 2010, Peaches Sebro, a Form One student of the same school, went missing. Her skeletal remains were found months later buried behind a house metres from her Cinnamon Hill home.
Her remains were found among five other separate bodies, including 71-year-old Gloria Quashie, who was her neighbour. But due to the decomposition of the remains a cause of death could not have been ascertained and the autopsy was inconclusive.
Christopher James, then 23, was arrested and charged in connection with the discovery of the other bodies but the matter is still in the magistrates court.
Anyone with information on Forbes can call 289-1315, 332-5417 or the Scarborough police at 639-2512, or for De Gale 341-2595, 631-0606 or the Old Grange police at 639-8888.