The Tribune

THE young girl who was found dead in Blue Water Cay has been identified as 17-year-old Candice Major, who police sources say was the alleged victim in a rape case before the courts.

The sources say before her body was dumped in a rocky area of Fox Hill on Friday, the girl was tortured and raped.

Police do not know if the incidents are connected but say they are exploring all avenues.

Assitant Superintendent BK Bonomy, head of the homicide division, would not comment on the alleged rape but did say police are still in the preliminary stages of their investigations.

He said: "She was just identified by her family. We are interviewing her friends and close family members to retrace the last places she visited. She was not reported missing but was not at home for two days. We are speaking to her family now to determine where she was. We still have no official cause of death there was a wound on her body but that is all I can say until an autopsy is performed."

Ms Major's body was discovered just after 10am last Friday in Blue Water Cay, south of Fox Hill Road.

She was fully clothed but sustained injuries to her upper body.

When the news of her death broke, friends and family wrote tributes on her Facebook page and described her as a " fun loving girl" whose life was "cut short too soon".

One friend said: "We will miss you baby girl. I hope justice is served. You are in a better place and I know you are an angel watching over us."

Police say they are also following significant leads into the death of Bridgette Patrice Saunders, 43, of Fox Hill.

Ms Saunders' body was found with neck wounds through a track road between Joan's Heights west and Cox Way shortly after 8am on Tuesday.

A 34-year-old man was questioned by police and was released yesterday.

Detectives are asking anyone who may have information to call them on 919 or 911; the Central Detective Unit on 502-9991 or 502-9910; or Crime Stoppers on 328-TIPS.