Dominica DNA Testing: Samples to Be Hand-Delivered to Jamaica Lab in Jerbiah Paul Case

Dominican police will hand-deliver DNA samples to a Jamaican lab to confirm the identity of remains believed to be those of missing 16-year-old Jerbiah Paul. Four suspects, including active officers, have been charged.

Dominican Officer to Carry DNA Samples to Jamaica in Missing Teen Case

Dominican Commissioner of Police Lincoln Corbett has confirmed that remains found at the bottom of a precipice in Capuchin, north of Roseau, on August 12 will undergo DNA analysis at a laboratory in Jamaica, jamaica-gleaner.com reports. The remains are believed to be those of Jerbiah Paul, a 16-year-old who was last seen at her home on July 24, 2026, and reported missing the day after.

Four people, including active police officers, have been charged in connection with Paul's death.

Corbett said authorities are confident about the identity of the remains but that formal confirmation is required for evidential purposes. "Although we suspect and we believe that the remains that were recovered is that of the young lady, Jerbiah Paul — but for evidential purposes we must confirm it, and we will do that by DNA analysis," he said.

The commissioner explained that securing the necessary permit to submit samples to an overseas laboratory took time. "You have to make a request to the lab in Jamaica or Barbados or elsewhere to get a permit. It takes a while, but we must wait for the permit," Corbett said. Now that the permit has been received, an officer is being cleared to travel to Jamaica with the samples.

Authorities ruled out sending the samples by courier. "We have the option to send it by courier mail but we've decided we're not doing that. We're making sure that an officer delivers it by hand to the analyst," Corbett said. Securing a flight for the officer to travel with the samples is the remaining step before the process can proceed.

Dental records were considered as an alternative method of identification but were not available. DNA analysis is therefore the route investigators are pursuing.

Corbett stressed the centrality of the identification to the broader prosecution. "It's very critical — it's a central part of the case. We must establish the identity of the remains; that will strengthen the whole case in terms of prosecution," he said.

An autopsy has already been carried out. "We took samples, we did an autopsy and from this we can determine that the body or the remain that was found is that of the young lady," the commissioner added, while reiterating that the DNA result would serve as the definitive confirmation.

Separately, Corbett reported progress on Dominica's overall homicide figures. Of the 10 murders recorded in the country so far this year, seven have been solved — a figure he noted represents a reduction compared to the same period last year.

Source: Google News JM — Crime