Chefette worker vanishes; relatives anxious

The family of Sonia Suzette Parris, 58, who has been reportedly missing since Wednesday night, is imploring anyone with information to step forward and assist authorities in the search for her.

Desperate for answers, her family is urging anyone who may have surveillance footage from the vicinity where she was last seen to come forward, even anonymously, to aid in the investigation.

Parris, a Chefette employee from Edey Village, Christ Church, was reportedly last seen leaving her job at the restaurant’s Wildey branch, clad in her yellow and deep purple uniform, at about 10 p.m. on Wednesday.

She is about five feet tall, with a dark complexion, medium build and wearing a dreadlocks hairstyle.

When Barbados TODAY visited her home on Friday, a noticeable blanket of fear stifled the atmosphere as family and community members remained tight-lipped and unwilling to identify themselves but were visibly distressed.

Expressing profound worry and pleading for her safe return, one family member disclosed a troubling detail: “Thursday morning we realised her vehicle wasn’t in the driveway as usual when we got a visit from the police to say that a car [registered to her] was found partially burned.”

Though the relatives did not share much, they admitted that Parris usually heads home after her shifts.

It was reportedly the visit from the police that alerted them to her disappearance on Thursday.

“We don’t know what happened and we really don’t have much to say. We’re just waiting to hear back from the police and really asking if anybody in the area where the car was found is able to look at their camera and share whatever they can, we would appreciate it,” a relative said.

Despite the news circulating that Parris’ vehicle was found partially burnt, community members say they are still keeping their fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

“It got we shaken up bad,” said a relative. “We are praying and hoping that everything is fine. She’s a good lady. Everybody is sad. All we want to hear is that she is alive.”

When contacted about the details of the case concerning the Christ Church woman, the police noted that a missing report was filed sometime on Thursday.

However, they declined to comment further, sharing that they are still at a critical stage of their investigation.

Anyone knowing Parris’ whereabouts is being asked to contact the District ‘B’ Police Station at 437-4311, Police Emergency at 211, Crime Stoppers at 1- 800-TIPS (8477), or any police station.

shannamoore@barbadostoday.bb