The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

POLICE have the boyfriend of the 27-year-old mother found tied to a tree on Saturday in custody in connection with her death, according to Assistant Commissioner of Police Stephen Dean.

However, ACP Dean said police have not classified Jade Saunders’ death as a homicide as they are awaiting the results of an autopsy. He also said police have not ruled out the possibility that the death may have been a suicide.

Ms Saunders was found with a nylon stocking around her neck while kneeling with her head resting against a small tree trunk on Skyline Drive. She was partially clothed, wearing only a bra and pants.

It is believed she was there no longer than nine hours, as police said rigor mortis had not set in by the time officers arrived on the scene. A group of people walking in the area found the woman’s body shortly after 6am, police said.

Chief Superintendent Paul Rolle said that after the woman’s death had been reported to police, a man and a young child turned up to the nearby Cable Beach police station to report a woman missing.

Mr Rolle said the description the man gave of the woman matched the person found on Skyline Drive.

Police also discredited social media reports that they were searching for a marine in connection with the murder.

“Police want to assure members of the public that rumours circulating on social media that a Royal Defence Force marine seaman is being sought in connection with the death of a woman found dead on Saturday, May 2, are false and that there is no identifiable basis for such rumours,” the Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement on Sunday.