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Constable Noel Maitland, who is in custody in connection with the disappearance of Donna-Lee Donaldson, has been charged with her murder.
This was disclosed this afternoon by Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Bailey during a media briefing.
DCP Bailey said what began as a missing person's investigation turned into a murder probe "given the evidence that was being collected".
He noted that the charge has come following "20 days of diligent and comprehensive investigation by detectives".
Miss Donaldson was reported missing on July 13, two days after she went to visit Constable Maitland at his St. Andrew apartment.
Constable Maitland's attorney, Christopher Townsend, is hoping his client will be taken to court as soon as possible so a bail application can be made on his behalf.
Mr. Townsend admitted that there had been a "strong possibility" his client would be charged with murder given the "posture" of the police.
He said his team is now awaiting its day in court and is "anxious to see what it is that the prosecution is alleging by way of disclosure".
Search for body
DCP Bailey said the police believe forensics and evidence gathered via technology suggest Miss Donaldson was murdered between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on July 12.
He said the police have not yet determined the reason for her death but "can say that she was killed, based on our investigation".
DCP Bailey noted that the police have already searched the Riverton City dump for Miss Donaldson's body and found nothing.
While he admitted the police "could not come to a decision whether or not her body will be found", he said they will continue their search in the hope that the woman's family can have closure.
Fake news
Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson, who was also at the media briefing, said detectives encountered several challenges with the probe into Donna-Lee Donaldson's disappearance because of fake news which was being circulated by some members of the public.
These "fabricated and misleading stories", he said, served to divert the attention of the police and further traumatise the grieving family and loved ones.
He argued that the misleading information "muddies the water and causes people to lose faith in the integrity of the judicial process" - a result which only benefits the guilty.
INDECOM to question female cop
The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has said the female District Constable, who has not been linked to Donna-Lee Donaldson's disappearance, is still scheduled to to be questioned on Wednesday.
INDECOM Commissioner Hugh Faulkner told Radio Jamaica News that there is no reason to call off the interview, even if the witness "has not been elevated to a suspect or an accused".
The District Constable is the mother of Constable Maitland's child.
Another cop reassigned
Meanwhile, an officer who was assigned to the Grant's Pen Police Station lock-up has been transferred and a probe launched regarding his alleged role in facilitating an entertainer visiting Constable Noel Maitland while he was in jail.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Clifford Blake said the unauthoritised visit took place last week.
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