Missing woman found

Kizzia Luann Charles was immediately taken to hospital for medical treatment shortly after being found.

Though in a dazed state, the woman told police that sometime on Sunday she was approached by a woman driving a black Nissan Xtrail SUV near the Arima market.

The driver asked for directions to the Licensing Office in Arima.

Charles said she gave the woman directions but the driver asked if she (Charles) would accompany her to Licensing. Not suspecting anything, Charles agreed to go with the woman in her vehicle but on entering it, she was overpowered by a man who sat in the back and was brandishing a gun. What happened next was all a blur.

Charles, police sources said, recalled that sometime on Tuesday night she was taken to the Manzanilla beach by her abductors who attempted to put her in a boat which contained men speaking Spanish.

The boat’s engine stalled and after failing to get it to work, the abductors took Charles to another area of the beach. Charles believes she was again drugged and then abandoned. When she came to her senses at 10 am yesterday, Charles alerted a passerby who contacted the Manzanilla police.

Officers of the Counter Trafficking Unit were also alerted and the victim is expected to be interviewed today. Relatives of the woman were yesterday contacted and hurried to the Manzanilla police station bringing with them food and clean clothing.

Investigations are ongoing.

WHERE IS SHARLENE? While Charles’ relatives are today breathing a sigh of relief, now that she has been found alive, relatives of another woman are continuing their search for her and praying they will find her unharmed. Police said that Sharlene Somai, 23, was last seen on Tuesday at 8 pm in front her Petersfield, Chaguanas home. At the time, she was wearing a brown vest, short pants and brown slippers.

Newsday understands that her cell phone was left behind on the front porch of her home. Checks later for the missing young women proved futile and a Missing Person report was filed at the Chaguanas Police Station. Anyone with information on Somai’s whereabouts is asked to contact the nearest police station. Investigations are continuing.