As the country commemorates Women’s Day on Sunday 9 August 2020, the family of 26-year-old Lawren Shernice Jonathan is reeling in the shock of her brutal murder.
The lifeless body of Jonathan was discovered at an open field in Schauderville, Port Elizabeth, by a passerby a day after she was last seen alive.
Who is Lawren Shernice Jonathan?
Despite our hardest efforts, we were unable to source reliable information on the 26-year-old. We do, however, know that Jonathan was from Korsten, a community that neighbours Schauderville.
From what we could gather from police statements and reports, Jonathan frequented Schauderville a lot since she had friends who lived in the quiet community.
Everything we know about her disappearance
In fact, the last time her family saw her alive was on Thursday 6 August, at approximately 19:30 when the 26-year-old left her home saying that she was off to visit a friend in the neighbouring suburb.
Whether she was expected to return home that evening can’t be confirmed. However, according to police spokesperson Colonel Priscilla Naidu, Jonathan did, in fact, make it to the friend’s place that evening.
What is not clear, though, is the time in which she allegedly left the residence.
“It is alleged that on Friday, 07 August 2020 at about 07:45 a person was walking near an open space in Thornton Street when he noticed the body of a female lying in the field,” Col. Naidu revealed.
Therefore, the 12-hour period from when Jonathan left her home to visit her friend in Schauderville, to the discovery of her dead body is crucial in the homicide investigation.
It’s not confirmed if police found evidence of sexual assault but we know that the 26-year-old died from multiple stab wounds.
The search for Lawren Shernice Jonathan killer/s continues
Investigators leading the case are playing their cards close to their chests regarding details on persons of interest in the case.
The last person to see Jonathan alive, according to Col. Naidu, is the friend from the same neighbourhood which the victim’s body was discovered.
“The circumstances surrounding the brutal killing is unknown. Suspect/s are also unknown,” the police added.
This is an active investigation and more updates will be provided once they trickle in.