The case of the mysterious disappearance of 21-year-old Trinidadian national Thomas Vasquez has taken a concerning turn as police continue their investigation, now focusing their efforts on a house in Hodges Bay.
On May 7, heavily-armed officers conducted a search of the property, leading to the arrest of several individuals linked to Vasquez’s case.
Among those detained was a woman believed to have been in contact with Vasquez on the night of his arrival on April 14, as well as a senior employee and a young woman from the marijuana farm where Vasquez had been employed.
Despite being taken into custody, only the woman was released the same day.
As of midday May 8, the senior male employee remains in custody without charges, raising further speculation regarding the circumstances of Vasquez’s disappearance.
Authorities previously searched the English Harbour Marina for a boat believed to be connected to the case, although it was not found. Sources indicate that the vessel allegedly belongs to an associate of the senior employee currently being held.
Vasquez was reported missing on April 15, one day after he returned to Antigua to resume work.
Reports indicate that after arriving, Vasquez spent the evening socializing at a local bar and stayed overnight at a couple’s home. The following day, despite being seen on the farm, he was nowhere to be found by nightfall.
Adding complexity to the situation is the recent death of another farm worker, Jahkeem Browne, who was found shot to death on March 24, just weeks before Vasquez’s disappearance. However, Browne’s mother has publicly disputed claims that he worked on the same farm as Vasquez.
In response to the growing concerns surrounding Vasquez’s case, Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Sean Sobers has reached out to officials in Antigua and Barbuda for updates on the investigation.
Sobers emphasized the case as a high priority, requesting access to travel records for Vasquez and pledging to assist his family in seeking further information.
Vasquez’s mother, Candy Jageshar, has been an active voice for her son, utilizing social media to maintain public interest in the case. In a recent emotional statement, she expressed her hope that the minister’s involvement would lead to progress, saying, “I just want to tell my son, wherever he is: Mommy misses and loves you very much.”
As the investigation develops, questions regarding the legitimacy of the marijuana farm and the island’s history of unexplained disappearances loom large, leaving the country anxious for answers.
