Relatives, neighbours and friends of the mother, father and two children found dead following a series of explosions at their No. 140 Breezy Hill, St Philip home on Monday, are in a state of shock and sadness.
Tears flowed down the faces of Marjory Lovell and Cephas Lovell, the elderly parents of contractor Anthony Lovell, 49, as they struggled to come to grips with the death of their only son, their daughter-in-law attorney-at-law Allison Lovell, 46, and their two children Alexander Lovell, 10, and Abriel Lovell, 12.
The bodies of the four were all found in a bedroom at their residence shortly after 3:30 a.m.
As police investigators spent hours combing the scene for clues to get to the bottom of the tragedy, grief-stricken neighbours in the quiet, close-knit community who stood in their patios and huddled in groups looking on, said they were shocked at the demise of the family.
Anthony Lovell’s mother Majory Lovell (second from left), his father Cephas Lovell (third from left) and sister Maureen Alleyne (right) walking away from the scene.
“They were nice people, this is very unexpected. I heard the explosion about 3:30 this morning. Then I saw the light come on over there so I thought that he [Anthony Lovell] was up looking around too. So I thought it was a transformer so I just lay back down,” said a resident who requested anonymity.
“But then I heard another explosion shortly after, so I looked out and I saw the fire. I woke up my husband and told him the house was on fire. I ran outside and saw the flames coming from the master bedroom upstairs.”
The neighbour, who said she was close to the family, recalled that she then rushed over to the house and began knocking from the outside on a bedroom where Alexander usually slept.
She said she called the names of the family members but got no answer. According to her, another resident rushed to her vehicle and blew the car horn in an effort to get the Lovell family’s attention.
“She was trying to see if she could wake them up from sleeping. So then a neighbour came over with a crowbar and he broke the glass in the door and he went inside. But the smoke was too much so he didn’t get too far. We called the Fire Service,” the resident added.
Neighbours, who reported last seeing Anthony on Sunday evening, said his car was parked next to the house with the keys in the ignition and someone moved it.
The bedroom at the left rear of the No. 140 Breezy Hill, St Philip home where the Lovells were discovered in the wee hours of Monday morning.
Another resident said he was hurting, especially over the death of the children whom he knew from birth.
“I just standing here trying to figure out in my head what could have happened. I did love them two little children. I really loved those children. They were two beautiful children. This is really hurting me. Right now, everybody out here just shocked and hurting.
“This got me can’t function. This is an unfortunate situation and everybody distraught because this is an area that everybody get along with each other. I hope they find out what really went on and what is the cause. Those two children should be at school all now,” he said.
Residents said Alexander was a student of St Paul’s Primary while Abriel attended Combermere.
Barbados TODAY understands that Allison’s father, who lives in Trinidad, has been notified of her death.
Anthony’s mother and father were too grief-stricken to speak to the media, and one of his three sisters at the scene, Maureen Alleyne, said it was difficult for her to give a comment at the time.
However, Anthony’s uncle Dennis Cumberbatch described his nephew as a nice guy who was always at the beck and call of his parents. He said the last good deed Anthony did for his mother was to take her to visit an ailing daughter on Sunday.
“He was a very cool fella and that is the truth. He was always there for his parents and he was the only son and then they have three girls,” the relative said.
Desmond Cumberbatch, Anthony’s cousin, said he would always remember the deceased as a “very quiet fella”.
“He was close to his parents. He loved his mother,” he added.
In 2017, Allison was suspended from practising law for 18 months, after she was found guilty of professional misconduct. She was also released on $50 000 bail with two sureties in March 2016 on a charge of stealing $165 543.88 belonging to Cecil Marshall between July 30 and September 7, 2015.
Minister of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs Kirk Humphrey visited the scene and spoke with Anthony’s relatives.
Cynthia Forde, who was previously in charge of that ministry, was also at the scene comforting family members, particularly Anthony’s mother.
Additionally, social workers from the Welfare Department were on site to offer counselling and other services to the relatives and residents.
The bodies of the family were removed from the house by a team from Two Sons Funeral Home around 2:15 p.m.
Acting Police Public Relations Officer Inspector Stephen Griffith urged anyone who could assist lawmen with the investigations in to the deaths to contact Police Emergency 211, Police Hotline at 429-8787, District ‘C’ Police Station at 416-8200, or Crime Stoppers at 1 800 TIPS (8477).
(anestahenry@barbadostoday.bb)
