News

Mother searches for missing boy

Mario Dixon, who has been missing since August 6, 2005. - Contributed

INDEPENDENCE DAY LAST month was a joyous occasion for many Jamaicans who celebrated the country's freedom, but for Marcia Richards it was the day her son ran away from home.

Since August 6, Richards, who lives in Papine, St. Andrew, has been on a vigilant search for her 12-year-old son Mario Dixon, who ran away from home yet again.

Mario has been running away for the past five years, but his most recent disappearance is the longest period he has been gone. She said he had run away two weeks before his last disappearance, but he was found by a friend in downtown Kingston. The frequency of his disappearances has seen Dixon reporting to the police on a daily basis and receiving counselling.

On the day he last ran away, Dixon went to the Papine Police Station to report as usual. Dixon has been reporting to the station as a method instituted by the police to keep track of his activities since he ran away several times before.

Unable to sleep

However, when Mario left the station, his mother's cousin saw him going into a taxi heading to downtown, Kingston. She said her cousin asked him where he was going and he said his mother sent him downtown to get something. The cousin immediately called his mother but the taxi left soon after and Dixon has not been seen since.

When Mario left he was wearing a sky blue shirt, blue jeans and white Reebok sneakers. Richards said her son refuses to say why he has been running away, but he was being counselled. Richards said she suspects her son may not been in Kingston as she has several people looking out for him and he has not been seen yet.

Dixon's disappearance has worried Richards so much, she has been unable to sleep. "Mi really need him because is my only child and I have him when I was in school and I struggle wid him come this far," she said.

The Papine police confirmed that they received a report that Dixon was missing and anyone with information about Dixon's disappearance should contact them.