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Tonight there is a savage murder to report from Mahogany Heights Village. But what makes this murder worse is that the victim who was dragged into bushes, whose throat was slit, and who neighbours heard screaming for help on Saturday night was only 16 years old. Police also believe his killer may also be just 16. Keith Swift has the disturbing details of the cruel killing.

Keith Swift Reporting,
This is the exact spot where 16 year old Austin Tillett’s body was found yesterday and it is more than likely the spot where the 16 year old was butchered and tortured.

Valerie O’Brien, Mother of Deceased
“I saw my son and it he had a cut wound from here to here, stab under his eye, one here in the neck, and behind his feet.”

Keith Swift,
“So he was tortured?”

Valerie O’Brien,
“Yes.”

Valerie O’Brien reported her son missing on Sunday morning after he didn’t return home on Saturday night. Valerie says she had an eerie premonition.

Valerie O’Brien,
“Austin left out of my home at about 8:30 on Saturday night in the company of a guy just by the name of Popeye. Popeye came up to Mahogany Heights and stayed with my son from Wednesday. I hadn’t seen him before, this was the first time.”

Keith Swift,
“I know you called the police on Sunday morning.”

Valerie O’Brien,
“Sunday morning I went to work and I was so upset because my son doesn’t sleep out of the house, only when he is in Belize City. Austin didn’t come home on Saturday night and Sunday morning I was looking to go to work at five o’clock and Austin wasn’t there. That is not him; before I go to work he will always be there and he would walk me out to the entrance and come back. Austin didn’t come home and I went to work and I called I called I called. I called the police, I spoke to Mr. Longsworth and he told me he saw Austin after two at the club in the company of some friends and I was up at that time looking through the window to see if he will come home. I didn’t see Austin and I feel, I just had a feeling that something was wrong with my son.”

And Valerie says that when she turned to “Popeye” for answers about her missing son, he had none.

Valerie O’Brien,
“And as I came off the bus he was out there and he put three guys on the bus and he was riding back and I told him where is my son. He said mommy I haven’t seen your son. I said you slept at my house from Wednesday up to last night when my son disappeared and now you haven’t been there and I said Popeye if you know where my son is just make I go find the body and he rode away. He rode away. It is my son and I had the feeling, I know the feeling and I sensed that my son was dead. I sensed that he was dead and I told the police and they said my son was alive. I said no, I am the ma and I know when something is wrong with my kid.”

As she suspected – her son had been killed. This morning she led us to the site where police found her teenager’s body - 50 feet off the main road. Police believe he was dragged into the bushes where he was then bludgeoned. No murder weapon was found in the area but area residents say they heard screams on Saturday night. But who would want to kill the 16 year old?

Valerie O’Brien,
“I can’t say who hurt him because he is a friendly person. He is outgoing, he doesn’t interfere with nobody. I know majority people will say that your pickney this or your pickney that but that is just my son. He is a very nice person and he got along with everyone. He spoke to anybody, he was just a nice person.”

Keith Swift,
“Did he have beef with anyone?”

Valerie O’Brien,
“Austin hmm, how to put this, Austin, if you spoke to him and you told him something out of the way, he is not the kind of guy who will back off. He will answer back yes but I don’t know about the beef but he will answer you back. He won’t be the soft guy who will make them advantage of him.

I look at many mothers grieving for their children and I always said I wouldn’t want that happen to me and to everytime I sit in my home, I look at my son’s pictures and it hurts. My son always told me don’t worry about nothing. He said when you don’t see me, just listen to this song “Momma you know I love you.” He always told me that and he will be there right beside me. Sometimes when he would go to town and he doesn’t come and sleep he says mom don’t worry about him because he is right there. He is a loving son and so I will miss him. It is hard, it is hard. I will miss him.”

Austin Tillett and his family moved to mahogany heights just a little over a year ago.

Hattieville Police told us that they have four persons detained but were unable to see if it included the elusive “Popeye” who was last seen alive with Austin Tillett. According to a late evening press release from the Police Department, their first report on it, the detainees are all minors – three are 16 and the other 17. A post mortem on Austin Tillett’s body will be conducted tomorrow afternoon.