The case of the missing children has now come to a closure.

Today Cordell Farrington; a father of three children (one just three months old) was charged in a Freeport court with the murders of Jamaal Robinson, 22, Mackinson Colas, 11, Junior Reme, 11, DeAngelo McKenzie, 13, and Desmond Rolle, 14.
Four minors were charged earlier this month with manslaughter in connection with the disappearance of 12 years old ; Jake Grant whose body is yet to be found.

These cases are new to the Bahamas and has left many persons asking questions locally and internationally.


The questions today on Bahamas Issues are:

- What are your suggestions in the handling of these cases by the courts?
- What penalty should Cordell Farrington (who turned himself in) receive?
- If convicted; what should be done with the four minors charged with the death of 12 year old Jake Grant?
- What measures should the Bahamas put in place to help and prevent incidents such as this from happening again?
- Do we need to consider an “Amber Alert” system similar to the United States' that immediately places all relevant authorities on high alert when a child is reported missing?

Pleas post your comments below.

:bahamas: Cordell Farrington should receive the death penalty! No doubt. I don't say this out of malice either.

Yes, he did turn himself in; but, I'd dare say he do so only because of pressure brought on by tactics of the authorities---more than likely he felt that they were 'caving in on him'. He is a very smart, shewd individual who should never again be allowed to threaten society.

This may sound cold; but in too many similar cases that I have followed elsewhere in the world where these things happened these guys would repeat the same if given more opportunities. And, frankly the society is safer and better off without them. Otherwise we allow them to continue to connive and plot and weasle their way right into our sympathies because they simply will not be governed by the rules and norms of society.

As for the juvenille's---what an extremely sad tragedy:( Every effort must be made to remediate them---this will take many many years. They need to understand the importance of life and the magnitude of what they involve themselves in (if they are guilty). If they are not guilty then they and their families must be given both a public apology and some suitable compensation.

This whole this makes you sad to your gut.....:(

death sentence for Farrington A.S.A.P. but you know what goin' to happen?
he won't ever be hung because it seems we don't hang people no more in the bahamas. this will make the population very angry...again!

the four boys need rehab? for what? was'nt it manslaughter...which is accidental death more that premeditaed murder. they need councelling to help them to go on because i know they are scared & in shock trying to live with this over the last few months. those boys are not murderers.

and why do we need an Amber alert like the states? alerts are for when you may be attacked by outside threats such as terrorist. furthermore having an alert system does not stop an attack. it just hightens your awareness.
what we need is a curfew at 9 o' clock each night!

furthermore, do you think the police would have solved this case with out farrington turning himself in? but now they want all the praise, for doing nothing. they took too long to do anything while our boys dropped one by one
out of sight.

Yes! Farrington should receive the death sentence. He took away our innocent boys. He is a calculated cold blooded murderer. There is no use in trying to figure out a mind like his. It would be like knocking you head against a brick wall :realmad: . I really cant explain what I am feeling now. I know my heart aches for the families and the children. Who knows what those children went through before their death. The thought is just sickining. That could have very well been your child or mine.

I can only offer heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims. Few can imagine exactly what they are going through, but as a nation I’m sure that we all stand collective in a tragic sense of relief behind them.

Due to the international exposure that this case has received, there is no doubt that this case will be handled as expediently and as efficiently as possible. Our court system is probably going to demonstrate an extreme level of professionalism to make sure that this case looks good for The Bahamas. And rightly so, because the world is watching.

The law books will decide what fate is rested on the head of Cordell Farrington. The gruesome nature of this crime will mandate the harshest penalty allowed by law, of course. As for the young boys, if the hypothesized story about their situation (accidental death) stands true, they will probably get a sentence relating to involuntary manslaughter by minors.

From what was said on the news, it seems that Cordell Farrington gained the trust of these boys before he committed these crimes. This fact highlights the importance of parents knowing who their kids socialize and are familiar with. Within this small society where the concept of “latchkey” kids is becoming more common, it is difficult for parents to regulate what their kids do after school. Most of these kids have their own household keys and can come and go as they please after 3 p.m. Perhaps a school day ending at 5 p.m. is a solution? It’s been discussed before, but no one has really paid attention to recommendations to adopt it. This way the majority of kids aren’t wandering the streets in the afternoon, 3 p.m. traffic is eliminated, and the unsupervised time after school that some kids have is reduced.

Even if we adopted a warning-system like the US, it probably would only serve to raise the panic level in the public, which can be counter-productive. Notice carefully how the US warning-system has slowly faded away into the background. Also it would not have helped much in this case, since the missing boys were familiar with the persons held responsible for their death.

At least now we can all breathe easy knowing that closure has been established in this missing boys case.

This whole situation with the missing boys seems very difficult to deal with. All of our wisdom and knowledge must be brought to bear in making the right decisions in these cases. And I do not think that some sudden decision should be made to just "hang em high". Here, we don't seem to be dealing with the ordinary run of crimes that are committed by our people. Here, it seems that we DON'T know what on earth we are dealing with! Are the perpertrators mentally sick, demonically influcenced, or what?

Regardless of what penalties are given, I believe that one of the most important things to do is to pick these people brain, emotion, thinking, whatever --- pick them literally to pieces to try to determine WHY they would have done such outstandingly atrocious acts. We must find the reasons as a first step to help us to avoid a repetition of these types of atrocities.

I fully agree with Mother Pratt that we need God -- the Bahamas needs healing! I am sure some of the other contributors are going to shoot me down for saying this -- I don't care! History is replete with people being condemned for speaking the truth! 20 or 30 years ago we seriously started straying far away from God. Remember when no matter how bad a criminal was he would never even think of breaking into a church!? Remember how shocking it was when breaking into and stealing from churches first started!? As we stray away from our Maker, things just seem to be getting worse and worse in our Bahamaland. (Can anyone please tell me why, as a little nation we are unable to feed ourselves, or at least to grow most of our own food!?)

God has given us many warnings! Let us continue to pray for the boys' families and for this nation. Let us put God first in EVERYTHING! We cannot afford to have these grossly repulsive atrocities committed again in our land!


"Seek first to understand, then, to be understood!"

Great Demos

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/7137944.htm


According to what I was told prior to this, Cordell Farrington is a known pedophile. There is no cure for pedophilia.
I have little doubt that he killed the first child, whose body has yet to be found.
The boys that are under arrest, it's reported they confessed to putting his body behind an apartment complex after he "drown". However, his body has not been found according to news articles.
I do not know your criminal justice system. All the forgiveness in the world will not change a pedophile, or serial killer. I would not be surprised to learn that he starts talking about the bible and god and religion. This would be true to form for people in prison.
I do feel an amber alert system would be good for any country. It is used here in the U.S. unfortunately almost every day, and has in fact helped save children's lives.
www.codeamber.org (http://www.codeamber.org)

I understand this is not a commonplace crime in the Bahamas, however, due to people being able to travel via airplane, vehicle, etc, no country is immune.
Those are very sad facts, perhaps hard to swallow, but important for everyone concerned.

Perhaps if there were a code amber system in the Bahamas, this could have saved these young lives from being wasted. Such a tragedy.
As a student profiler, i'm very interested to learn of Farrington's history, from childhood to present.
My condolences to all,
Rhonda

TODAY is a very sad day in The Bahamas as we witness these boys who were missing paid the ultimate price at the hands of a very sick man who planned their end. A sad day indeed also because now our country is no different from many others riddled with crime.

I would like to know what this sick man’s motive was? To befriend these boys, gain their trust just to waste them?

This killer should not be kept in jail for too long but should be brought to trial expeditiously and should be hang; his crime is too hideous not to give him the death penalty. Experts should be brought in to study this creature before disposing of him.

The situation is very sad all around, if the boys who were arrested are found guilty, the parents should also be held responsible for their actions and the boys should undergo extensive counseling and therapy with some type of community service involvement in the hopes of healing.

Our country needs to go back to BASICS beginning with the values being taught at HOME we need to walk back to GOD asking for His forgiveness and His healing for ourselves and our country. Our country is in big trouble!
Our acknowledgement of Godly principles is superficial at best because with our life styles we proclaim to be a very materialistic society pursuing self satisfaction at whatever cost. SIN like cancer spreads throughout and destroys.

WHERE are the spiritual leaders of this nation? This Island nation which calls itself a Christian nation; but is it?

We look around us here in The Bahamas the cancer is very well spread into all areas. From the Head to the Toes this country is ill! Is it any wonder this killer had ample time to plan and carry out his crimes; turn himself in and walked to the police with a look on his face as if he’s done something wonderful!

The infrastructure in our country is crumbling and NO ONE capable to stop it is in CHARGE.

GOD help us! His grace and Strength be with the victims families.

Psalm #46 God is our Refuge and Strength an ever-present Help in times of trouble....

The case of the missing children has now come to a closure.

Today Cordell Farrington; a father of three children (one just three months old) was charged in a Freeport court with the murders of Jamaal Robinson, 22, Mackinson Colas, 11, Junior Reme, 11, DeAngelo McKenzie, 13, and Desmond Rolle, 14.
Four minors were charged earlier this month with manslaughter in connection with the disappearance of 12 years old ; Jake Grant whose body is yet to be found.

These cases are new to the Bahamas and has left many persons asking questions locally and internationally.


The questions today on Bahamas Issues are:

- What are your suggestions in the handling of these cases by the courts?
- What penalty should Cordell Farrington (who turned himself in) receive?
- If convicted; what should be done with the four minors charged with the death of 12 year old Jake Grant?
- What measures should the Bahamas put in place to help and prevent incidents such as this from happening again?
- Do we need to consider an “Amber Alert” system similar to the United States' that immediately places all relevant authorities on high alert when a child is reported missing?

Pleas post your comments below.

I wouldn't declare this closed just yet; although there is a national sigh of relief that there is definite indication of what happened to the boys, and that the person allegedly responsible for most of the disappearances is in custody, there cannot be closure until the legal process has been completed. We still do not know for sure what happened to Jake Grant. There is no closure for the families of the boys in custody in connection with his disappearance.

I wouldn't declare this closed just yet; although there is a national sigh of relief that there is definite indication of what happened to the boys, and that the person allegedly responsible for most of the disappearances is in custody, there cannot be closure until the legal process has been completed. We still do not know for sure what happened to Jake Grant. There is no closure for the families of the boys in custody in connection with his disappearance.
I agree 100% junk_noo2000,
this case is far from over. As the details are released or discovered, plus there are the families involved, their grief, plus everyone grasping to understand such terrible things.
I know the people there are not used to these types of crimes, unfortunately here, and as far as my studies go, although hard to fathom, I read about or see them on the news everyday. I study all kinds of crimes, criminals, and
their victims.
I am a member of cold case network as well, where we try to identify the john and jane does, with pictures and criteria matching those that are missing.

http://www.thecrimeweb.com/characteristics_of_a_serial_kill.htm

Perhaps this will help those trying to understand.
Rhonda

The questions today on Bahamas Issues are:

- What are your suggestions in the handling of these cases by the courts?
- What penalty should Cordell Farrington (who turned himself in) receive?
- If convicted; what should be done with the four minors charged with the death of 12 year old Jake Grant?
- What measures should the Bahamas put in place to help and prevent incidents such as this from happening again?
- Do we need to consider an “Amber Alert” system similar to the United States' that immediately places all relevant authorities on high alert when a child is reported missing?
I think a thorough investigation needs to be completed to make sure that he won't try to plead insanity. I don't know about your court system in the Bahamas. Here in the US, people will try for and have gotten plea bargains.
In other words, "if I confess, I get a lighter sentence"-the court agrees, and instead of the death penalty, they may get life in prison, or even a lesser sentence. I think the amber alert system is good for any country. I know it's sad to have to have it, but it really is a necessity, not just in cases of kidnappings, but if I child wanders off from home or a family outing, the alert is given and not just law enforcement, but all concerned citizens know to be on the lookout for the missing child and safely return the child to his/her parent(s). I don't know what measures you can take to ensure it will never happen again.
Thanks
Rhonda:dgi:

I also feel that the public need to be made aware of persons that have been convicted of crimes against children or any crime of a violent nature.

We all need to know who our neighbors are!

I also feel that the public need to be made aware of persons that have been convicted of crimes against children or any crime of a violent nature.

We all need to know who our neighbors are!
Serial killer of 5 found in Bahamas
Investigators in the Bahamas are beginning to piece together details of a serial killing case that broke after a quiet warehouse clerk turned himself in and was charged in the deaths of four missing boys and a 22-year-old friend.

Common characteristics in the deaths of the five all point to one killer, assistant police commissioner Ellison Greenslade said yesterday.

"The fingerprints are glaring," he said. "This is a complicated investigation. There's a lot more work to be done."

Cordell Farrington, 35, has been charged with the murders of two 11-year-old, a 13-year-old, a 14-year-old and 22-year-old Jamaal Robins, whom he befriended at a drug rehabilitation center.

Farrington's ex-girlfriend, who identified herself only by the last name Dean, said police seized three cardboard boxes that allegedly belonged to Farrington last week.

The boxes contained human bones separated into plastic bags and labeled with numbers, one police officer told The Associated Press.

Dean, with whom Farrington has a 3-month-old daughter, said he kept the boxes in a room that he used to craft artwork with driftwood and conch shells.

"He used to say, 'This is my room, and no one is to go in there,"' she said at her doorstep on Sunday.

Farrington was not asked to enter a plea in court last week. He is jailed pending a hearing on February 17. If convicted, he could be hanged.

Investigators told victims' relatives Farrington led them to other remains scattered on the eastern end of Grand Bahama, an island of resorts and golf courses fringed with pine forests.

Friends described Farrington as a bright, articulate man who was an avid reader of the Bible and had kicked a crack habit.

"I'm just completely baffled by it," said Elkin Moss, 26, Farrington's roommate for several months last year.

Dean said she met Farrington at a gas station and they started living together earlier this year, before the boys began to disappear in May.

Dean said Farrington mentioned being abused as a child but was a good father. She said they began to argue when she noticed he was losing weight and suspected he had started using drugs again.

They separated on October 26, just hours before Farrington turned himself in to police. By then, Dean said, Farrington had moved the boxes to the porch of her mother's house for storage. She said police later came for them.

A sixth body found at an undisclosed location has yet to be identified, although 12-year-old Jake Grant disappeared in May. <----------

Rhonda:dgi: