Teenage girls missing again
Teshay Bryan
Motesha Mothen
(CNS): Motesha Mothen (16), a resident of the Frances Bodden Children’s Home and regular runaway, and Teshay Bryan (13) from George Town, who is a student at John Gray high School, have both absconded, police said as they issued a release asking for the public’s help in finding the girls. Neither of the teenagers have been seen since yesterday and it is not clear if they are together.
Motesha was last seen at about 7:30am Monday at the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre, where she is now a student. She was wearing black pants, a black long-sleeved shirt, white sneakers and a black and white headband. She is about 5’3”, of slim build, with black natural hair, brown eyes, with a brown complexion.
Teshay was last seen at about 11:00am on Monday at the John Gray High School campus wearing her uniform. She is about 5’6”, of brown complexion and slim build, and has short black hair.
Anyone with information on Motesha’s whereabouts is encouraged to call Bodden Town Police Station at 947-2220, and anyone with information on Teshay is asked to contact the George Town Police Station at 949-4222.
Anonymous tips can be provided to the RCIPS Confidential Tip Line at 949-7777, or website. Tips can also be submitted anonymously via the Miami-based call centre of Crime Stoppers at 800-8477(TIPS), or online.
Category: Local News
this running away happens all too often. would it help to have security guards on duty all the time? or is that already in place?
is there any punishment for running away/?
are there counsellors there that can ‘mollycoddle’ them and see if they will open up to the adults that are in charge?
it sounds a right mess. Hope they learn sense sooner than later.
Your ignorance is breathtaking! “Are there counsellors there that can mollycoddle them”. These young people have suffered trauma. Their running away is a symptom of that. The issue is how do you fix a broken child. In Cayman we allow children to stay in dysfunctional families way too long and by the time they are taken into care it is often too late. Counsellors do not mollycoddle. They give a safe space for someone to explore past traumas and help that person to move forward. Well that is what a counsellor is supposed to do but there are many in Cayman whose capabilities are questionable.
No government anywhere has solved the problem of teenage runaways. The home does a good job even if one or two girls are uncontrollable.
Frances Bodden Children’s Home is not a prison, but these children are wards of the state. There should be basic terms of residency, and a signed affirmation of conduct, where violations of expected behavior trigger lasting consequences. In the case of a 16 year old AWOL recidivist, the 8th or 9th “escape” at emancipation age, should trigger an invitation for her to sign her own release, and seek her fortune elsewhere at someone else’s concern and expense.
STOP this nonsense right now. So you want to punish someone for the rest of their life for running away at 16!
After the umpteenth amber alert, yes. These are not stray kittens. All teens should be held to a standard where they acknowledge the revocability of trust, and the conditions for forfeiture of financial support, or public charity in this case. Those harbouring them should face criminal prosecution.
So much can be said about this. Why are these girls CONSTANTLY running away and why is nothing being CONSTANTLY done about it. Seriously. If they don’t want to be there then let them go and don’t bring them back, they are obviously not giving a sing F about their future. As for the home, then tightening up security and procedures might have to be looked into. They obviously can’t be trusted with their own freedom.
“If they don’t want to be there then let them go and don’t bring them back, they are obviously not giving a sing F about their future.” – Is the air thin up there on your high horse?
I’m sure you loved eating your broccoli as a child, getting to bed early and doing all of you homework before going to play. I agree that two kids who haven’t had the greatest opportunities probably aren’t thinking about their future, which is why someone with the power and authority to do so should be looking out for them.
All the ones really in power just want a cruise dock. If you think they care about the people in need then I have a golden unicorn to sell you.
No they are not safe and well. These are children who are very vulnerable with multiple traumas in their lives that have not been addressed. The running is a symptom of their inner turmoil.
Check Mona Lisa Way, West Bay.
She is old enough to do her own thing.
Massive system failure. It is time for someone in charge to be held accountable.
No one in Cayman is ever held accountable. What you get is a lot of blaming, the children’s home, the school, the teachers etc. What you never hear is that Social Services in Cayman is a shambles and their constant failure to ensure the safety of the Children of the Cayman Islands is accepted because in Cayman no one wants to rock the boat.
She is the responsibility of her parents.
Not if she is a ward of the state. Read much?
Nope responsibility was taken away and the state stepped in and made her a ward of court, effectively they become the parent. The failure now squarely lies with the state for failing these very vulnerable and damaged young people.
Someone like the parents maybe!
Moron, was she in her parents care when she left the “girls home”? If she is a ward of the state, OBVIOUSLY her parents no longer have a say.