After futile searches for two missing men, the police are now calling on the public to come forward if they have information about the disappearance of Michael Knights and Cedros fisherman Ian Dookie. Police said the two cases remain open, but they have no new leads. Knights, the nephew of calypsonian Luta (Morell Peters), was last seen at his workplace at the Marabella Secondary School, where he was a stores attendant with MTS.
He left his Third Street, San Fabien Road, Springland, Gasparillo, home for work with his father Eric Knights, around 6.30 am on August 5 and was dropped off under the flyover in Gasparillo. Co-workers said Knights was at work for the entire day and was last seen heading towards Gasparillo. He was wearing black pants, a yellow long-sleeved shirt and brown shoes and had a black knapsack.
Dookie was last seen on October 31, when he left his home at 3 am and got into a taxi which took him to Icacos to begin work. He has not been seen since and calls to his cell phone have gone unanswered. Police have interviewed several people, including a man who may have been the last person to see him alive. Relatives of Knights, 25, and Dookie, 38, used the police town meetings held at Gasparillo and Cedros to appeal for help to find their loved ones.
At the Cedros meeting Deputy Commissioner of Police Glen Hackett told the Dookie family he had referred the matter to the Anti Kidnapping Squad (AKS) and had also appointed Insp Anderson Parryman to follow up. Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams told Knights’ father Eric he felt his pain and assured the police would do their best to find him. Senior Supt Cecil Santana also assured the investigation into Knights’ disappearance was continuing.
These assurances, however, brought little comfort for the families, who continue to lose sleep over the missing men. Ian Dookie’s father Michael confirmed that members of the AKS have been visiting regularly, but there is no new information. Dookie said this loss has taken a toll on the entire family, especially his wife, Sheila, who cries and prays constantly for her son’s return.
“She is so worried, like she’s tripping off, you can’t understand what she’s saying. She cries a lot still, but she also praying right through.” Dookie was last seen wearing black three-quarter pants and a black chequered jersey. Anyone with information on Knights can contact Marabella police station at 652-6777 or relatives at 684-2246. People can call Cedros police station at 690-1196 with information on Dookie.
