The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

CHIEF Superintendent Paul Rolle yesterday said speculation that spread over social media that a teen girl who died at the Willie Mae Pratt Centre for Girls was murdered is “nonsense”.

The Central Detective Unit chief, who also headed the investigation into the girl’s death, said he was satisfied in the work already done by police. The case has been turned over to the coroner.

Tasha McDonald, 14, was found around 11am on Monday in one of the centre’s rooms. Police said at the time, her death was an apparent suicide.

However, rumours spread on Facebook that the teen was murdered.

Mr Rolle called on social media users to be more responsible in their thinking and to respect the families of victims before circulating unsubstantiated claims on the Internet. “No (we are not investigating a murder),” Mr Rolle said, responding to questions from reporters at a press conference at the CDU. “I have indicated that any time an individual dies in the custody of the state that matter has to be investigated and it goes to the coroner. There is an inquiry.

“You are probably referring to (claims on) social media because persons have contacted me yesterday with that and I brand it as nonsense the information that was circulating on social media about this young girl.

“I think we need to be more responsible and I think a little more respectful for the family of these individuals when you go out wilfully and put out this type of false information on (social) media.

“We are doing an investigation,” he added. “I am leading that investigation and I am satisfied with what we are doing. I have met with the family already and I have explained what the circumstances are.

“They are entitled to that information.

“I would not discuss that here and what they don’t have today they will have in due course.”

The teen had been in the centre for a week before she died.