As thousands prepare to visit cemeteries on All Saints’ Day to honor their departed loved ones, the family of Mariah Seenath will gather at the site where her body was discovered over a month ago to commemorate what would have been her 14th birthday. On October 31, at her grandmother’s home in Friendship Village, Mariah’s uncles, Krishna and Shiv Seenath, were seen decorating a metal cross with vibrant flowers in red, white, silver, and yellow, chosen to contrast against the green backdrop of the location where she was found. Blue flowers were also added, symbolizing her favorite color, as part of a memorial shrine to honor her tragically short life. Krishna, seated on the front porch, expressed the family’s struggle to cope with the loss, stating, ‘It’s unbelievable. It’s hard to cope with, but they said don’t question God. It’s in the hands of God. It’s just to manage.’ He emphasized that Mariah’s memory would always remain with them. On the evening of November 1, relatives planned to visit the site to pay tribute, and if weather permitted, release lanterns into the night sky. Krishna recalled how Mariah’s birthdays were always a special occasion, marked by her favorite meals—barbecue and fries or roti and curry—followed by cake and ice cream. However, this year, the family chose not to cut a cake, as Krishna explained, ‘Knowing that she’s not here…it wouldn’t feel comfortable.’ He expressed hope that the perpetrator would soon be brought to justice, providing the family with closure. Senior homicide detectives confirmed to Newsday that no arrests have been made yet, as police await toxicology and blood reports to further the investigation. Mariah, a Form Three student at San Fernando East Secondary, went missing on September 19 after leaving her Friendship Village home. Her body was found the following day in bushes along a path she frequently used. An autopsy revealed she died from blunt force trauma to her head, leading investigators to conclude she was beaten to death.
In memory of Mariah – Family to mark birthday of murdered teen on All Saint’s Day
