...but parents’ lives at risk

KERRI Greaves, the 21-year-old daughter of Newsday’s senior reporter Debra Ravello-Greaves has been released unharmed, but her parents’ lives are now at risk, according to information received by the Anti Kidnapping Squad (AKS). Kerri Greaves, of Belmont Circular, was dropped off at Phase 2, La Horquetta, around 10.05 pm Wednesday, exactly one week after she and her friend Vanessa Phillip, 27, were snatched by armed men at the corner of Scott Hill and Saddle Road, Maraval. The kidnappers, who eventually threw Vanessa out at Morvant Junction, later contacted the Greaves family and requested $500,000 for the young woman’s safe return. Reports are that no money was paid.

Kerri, who has not been in the best of health, was treated at the Arima Hospital and later discharged. She was said to be dehydrated, and had abrasions to her left leg and chest. Police said the abrasions were caused by a struggle inside the black B13 Nissan Sentra vehicle, in which the two women were placed when they were held. Other than the abrasions, police said, Kerri has been given a clean bill of health. Kerri couldn’t tell the police where she had been held for the last week because she said she was blindfolded and tied up and was fed food by the kidnappers. Police said that after Kerri, a business student, was released she went to a nearby house, knocked on the door, which was opened by a man identified only as “Mike”, who said he opened his door and “saw a young woman standing there”. 

She identified herself as Kerri Greaves and said she had been kidnapped. Kerri asked “Mike” to contact Pastor Earl Phillip, whose church, the Lighthouse Ministries, she attends at Duke Street, Port-of-Spain. “I am just glad that this whole thing is over,” the Pastor told Newsday. Police said the Pastor then contacted the Port-of-Spain Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the information was passed on to Cpl Anthony Nesbitt and PC Simon Gill of the AKS.  Senior AKS officers, under Sr Supt Gilbert Reyes and ASP Henry Millington were also contacted. Her father, Neale Greaves, manager of the PTSC Terminal Mall, told Newsday that his daughter was not well and is still seeking medical attention. Cooper said Kerri thanked the nation for all the prayers, for which she is “eternally grateful” during her trying time. The senior officer also said that Kerri sent out an appeal to the people who have kidnapped six-year-old Marc Prescott, to release him.