For more than two weeks, the unexplained disappearance of 15-year-old Portsmouth native Jerbia Paul has held the attention of communities across Dominica. Now, law enforcement has confirmed a critical new development: one individual is in police custody as investigators ramp up efforts to resolve the case. In a press briefing with reporters on Monday, Police Public Relations Officer Inspector Fixton Henderson would not confirm widespread social media speculation that the detained person is a serving member of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force, only confirming that the inquiry remains active and moving forward.
“All I can say is that the matter is being thoroughly investigated and one person is currently in custody,” Henderson told reporters, declining to share further details due to the ongoing nature of the probe. Paul was first reported missing after she was last spotted in Portsmouth on July 31. When authorities launched their official missing person search, they released a public description of the teen: she stands roughly 5 feet 2 inches tall, has a slim build and dark complexion, and was wearing a black T-shirt, blue jeans and black slippers when she was last seen.
In the two weeks since Paul vanished, investigators have followed up on dozens of tips and leads from the public. Parallel to official police efforts, a large-scale ground search has been organized by Paul’s family members, friends, local volunteers and ordinary community members, who have combed through areas in and around Portsmouth and adjacent neighboring communities. The disappearance has triggered widespread public concern across the island, and Paul’s mother Jacinta Paul has made repeated emotional pleas for anyone with information to step forward. She has described the endless uncertainty over her daughter’s fate as an unending nightmare, urging anyone who holds even small details about Jerbia’s whereabouts to contact law enforcement immediately.
The high-profile case has also drawn intervention from the country’s top security official. National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore has publicly called on Dominicans to avoid sharing unconfirmed information across social media platforms. He warned that spreading unvetted rumors does not just risk undermining the formal investigation, it also inflicts additional unnecessary emotional harm on the Paul family. Blackmoore emphasized that law enforcement teams are working around the clock to uncover the full facts of the case.
As of Monday, police have not released any information about the identity of the person in custody, nor have they confirmed what potential criminal charges may be connected to the detention. Authorities are continuing their public appeal for credible information from the public that could move the investigation forward. Anyone with details can contact the Portsmouth Police Station at 266 4654, the Criminal Investigations Department at 266 5165, Jacinta Paul directly at 276 4052, or any local police station in Dominica. Anonymous tips can also be submitted through Crime Stoppers Dominica at 1-800-8477. Police have reiterated that the investigation remains ongoing and have asked the public to refrain from unsubstantiated speculation as detectives continue their work.