By Latrishka Thomas
The body found near Devil’s Bridge last weekend has been identified as that of Deshawn Devonte Joseph of Glanvilles, the police said.
The 17-year-old’s identity was confirmed by members of his family late Wednesday afternoon.
They reportedly told the police that they last saw the deceased on Wednesday last week; however, no missing person’s report had been filed because he was often in the habit of disappearing.
Joseph’s body – pulled from the water’s edge near the popular recreational spot and tourist attraction – was found with seaweed covering a portion of his partially decomposed remains.
A visitor from the United States reportedly noticed the corpse while walking along the road leading to Indian Town around 11 am on Sunday.
The beachgoer alerted the police to the discovery and officers attached to the Willikies Police Station went to the scene.
According to a police source, the young man’s body was clad in black shorts and a black t-shirt with leopard print.
The Glanville’s resident was pronounced dead on the spot around 2:49 pm by a medical doctor.
Police believe foul play was involved in Joseph’s death.
On Tuesday, Police PRO Inspector Frankie Thomas told OBSERVER media that the matter is being treated as a suspicious death, despite not yet having evidence to determine whether the teenager was the victim of a homicide.
However, he said, a detailed investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of Joseph’s demise.
