UTech student found dead in St. Catherine

 

 

The body of a 39-year-old University of Technology (UTech) student was discovered in St. Catherine on Monday, days after he was reported missing.

 

The deceased has been identified as Michael Patterson. 

 

Mr. Patterson's sister, Sashana, said she last spoke with her brother on Friday, February 20. 

 

Ms. Patterson said her brother had recently started working with ride-sharing company, inDrive, to fund his university education. 

 

He was also employed as a security guard.

 

The Gleaner reported on Tuesday that the police were probing the death of a man whose partially decomposed body was found in a canal near the community of Hartlands, which is located off Old Harbour Road. 

 

The police reported that about 12:30 p.m., passersby stumbled upon the body in the waterway.

 

 

In the meantime, UTech President Dr. Kevin Brown has described the death of Michael Patterson as sad and unfortunate.

 

Dr. Brown expressed hope that the ongoing investigations will determine the circumstances surrounding his death. 

 

"I'm deeply saddened to learn that we've lost a student from our School of Engineering. His name is Michael Patterson, a third-year engineering student, who from all accounts was a good student, someone that was doing well in school, someone that appeared very committed to his studies. And I'm heartbroken to learn that he lost his life under what appears to be rather tragic circumstances," he bemoaned.

 

The UTech president said the tragedy follows closely behind another similar incident last year involving a student.

 

Dr. Brown noted that the university is still mourning the murder of Anisa Dilworth, whose remains were found at a beach in Hellshire, St. Catherine on May 17, ten days after she was reported missing.

 

"So to lose another student this year in such a short span of time is unimaginable.... I have no words that express my grief at this time. And we await the outcome of the investigation," he said.

 

Dr. Brown urged students to exercise caution and remain vigilant whenever they are off campus.