by Linda Straker
- Missing child found in Concord, St John
- Man arrested and charged for Child Stealing by unlawfully detaining a female person, 10 years of age
- Delon Gludd remanded to His Majesty’s Prison until 8 March 2024
A 37-year-old man is facing a charge of Child Stealing days after Police announced that a 10-year-old child, reported as missing since 21 October 2023, was found. A suspect is in custody, assisting Police with their investigations.
“Delon Gludd, 37 years old, Carpenter of Thebaide, St David was arrested and charged by officers attached to the Special Victims’ Unit for the offence of Child Stealing by unlawfully detaining a female person, 10 years of age,” said an 8 November news release from the Community Relations Department of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF).
A press release from the Police dated 1 November said that the 10-year-old had left her home in the south of the island on Saturday, 21 October 2023 and had not returned. On 4 November, an updated release informed the public that the child had been found in the western community of Concord, St John and a man was in custody assisting with investigations.
On 8 November, the Police issued a follow-up release informing about the charge to Gludd. The Police further confirmed that the charges relate to the missing child.
Section 200 of the Criminal Code states a person is guilty of stealing another person—
(a) who kidnaps him or her; or
(b) who unlawfully takes or detains him or her, with intent to deprive of the possession or control of him or her any person entitled thereto, or with intent to steal anything upon or about his or her body or with intent to cause any harm to him or her.
It further explains that “For the purposes of this section, it is not necessary to prove that the person stolen had been taken from the possession, care or charge of any person, if it is shown that some person, other than the accused person, was entitled to the control or possession of the person stolen.”
Section 185 of the Criminal Code states, “Whoever steals any person under 12 years of age whether with or without his consent, shall be liable to imprisonment for 10 years.”
The Police release did not say when Gludd appeared before the Magistrate but pointed out that he was granted bail of EC$50,000 with one surety. “He was unable to secure bail and was remanded to His Majesty’s Prison until 8 March 2024,” according to the release.
