
Thirteen days after the body of 11-year-old Adriana Younge was discovered in a pool at the Double Day Hotel after she was reported missing the previous day, Commissioner of Police Clifton Hicken has been unable to provide critical information on the investigation into the death of the young girl which has sparked global outrage, and demands for justice.
Adriana Younge’s parents in the company of their Attorneys Dexter Todd and Eusi Anderson, met with the Commissioner of Police and two Deputy Commissioners of Police at the Commissioner’s office.
The Crime Chief was not among those attending the meeting, and according to the family and their Attorneys, the Top Cop was unable to provide critical information regarding the investigation into the death of the child.
Speaking to reporters outside of the Force’s headquarters, Attorney Dexter Todd said the Commissioner of Police could not answer many of their questions.
“Who really is heading this investigation? Who the investigators are in the investigation? No answer. What really are you investigating? Have you ruled out homicide? Are you investigating homicide? No answer. Samples have been sent overseas for testing, what tests are you hoping to be conducted from those samples? No answer. When likely would those tests be available? No answer. Is there a preliminary report available of the autopsy which was done? That has not yet been provided, it is not available, so we have no answer. Would you oppose us, of course, having a review of the autopsy? Well, we don’t have the report, so no answer. So, in a nutshell, the police force, all that they were prepared to say from the commissioner’s level is that they were doing a comprehensive investigation, that they are not at liberty at this stage to say, what really the comprehensive investigation would entail,” Todd told reporters.

An autopsy conducted on the remains of Adriana Younge by three independent foreign pathologists found that the child died by drowning.
As part of the investigation, DNA samples obtained from the hotel’s owner and those of Adriana Younge have been sent to the Mount Sinai Health System in New York for advanced testing and analysis, the police said laast week.
But according to Mr. Todd, Commissioner Hicken was unable to provide specifics with regards to the tests to be conducted, and whether water samples were taken from the pool.
“If you were going to do various tests to test the water, let’s say, what was found in the lungs, you have to test that and match that to something. When you do comparative test, you have to actually have the sample, the natural sample, because remember you are straining the blood to pull out the water content. So, what are you matching that against, how are you doing the comparative analysis. They can’t say if any water was taken from the pool, and I can tell you, we all see the pool was emptied, as dry as day, so I am not too sure,” he explained.
Adriana’s parents have been demanding that the investigation be conducted by international investigators, even as they push for a second autopsy to be conducted. The Attorney said while the family understands that there may be challenges, the Police Force should explain the nature of those challenges.

“I think one of the reasons we wanted to have this first conversation with the Commissioner of Police, and the crime chief is to have an appreciation as to really where the shortcomings are, where our limitations are in terms of the investigation, and then see how the police force plans to involve the international community to bring in the experts in various areas, and I think that was quite disappointing that even days after this incident we cannot say to the family where the international community will be involved, presenting some form of assistance to aid the police force in a better and more thorough investigation,” Todd said.
The family and their attorneys have been advised by the Commissioner of Police to put their questions in writing, and in time, a response would be provided.
The attorneys are expected to meet with the family to discuss next steps.
According to Todd, the remains of Adriana have not decomposed significantly, and are in good condition. He said it is important for her to be buried and the family will decide when is the best time for that burial.
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