The Tribune

By SANCHESKA DORSETT

Tribune Staff Reporter

sdorsett@tribunemedia.net

TWO days after losing everything she owned in Hurricane Matthew, Natasha Minnis suffered another devastating blow when her 16-year-old son was shot in the head and killed.

His body was found in an abandoned building near her home.

In an tearful interview with reporters in front of the frame where her house once stood, Ms Minnis said October was the “worst month of her life” and just when she thought things could not get any worse, she claimed the funeral home is now threatening to return her son’s body to the morgue because she does not have the $5,000 needed to give him a proper burial.

Her son Torio Adderley was found lying in a pool of his own blood in an abandoned building on Friday, October 14.

According to police, officers were called to the building on the corner of Bain and Meadow Streets shortly after 7am.

He had what appeared to be “two gunshot wounds to the back of the head” and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police have no motive for the murder and no suspects in custody.

Ms Minnis said the only thing that is keeping her standing is her faith in God.

On Monday, the Royal Bahamas Police Force’s basketball team, The Crime Stoppers, donated supplies to repair Ms Minnis’ roof. While she said she is thankful for the assistance, it is not enough. She said she needs money to replace all the furniture, appliances and clothing she and her other three boys lost during the storm as well as find the money to pay to bury her eldest son.

“I am thankful,” she said. “I lost everything. There is nothing left. I have been able to put canvass over one of the bedrooms in the back so I am sleeping there with my three other sons, who are 13-year-old twins and 15 years old. It has been devastating. I can’t sleep because through the night you can hear people in the yard.

“And then my 16 year old was murdered. It hurts so bad, Lord Jesus. It has been a really tough month for me. The funeral home called me this morning (Monday). They need a down payment or they will return the body to the morgue. I don’t have the money to pay. The funeral is $5,836 and I don’t have anything. They need something so they can hold the body. I am employed but it’s not enough. From the roof fly off I went to try and get a loan from the bank and then I went again when he was murdered, but they can’t help me. I didn’t have insurance to bury him. Only Jesus has me standing right now.”

Member of Parliament for Bain and Grants Town Dr Bernard Nottage said he remembered speaking with Adderley the day before he was murdered and described the teen as “mannerly.”

“I remember that I got a call that there had been a tragedy not far from my headquarters,” Dr Nottage, who was present at the relief donation, said.

“I met him the day before and had a conversation with him. It turns out he was young student who was in the Sure programme and was thought to be exemplary in his behaviour. He was a young man they called on to talk about the crime problem and violence to other young men. She is unlucky that he is gone. She lost her son who had tremendous promise.”

If anyone would like to assist the grieving mother, Ms Minnis she can be contacted at 467-1098.