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A U.S. Navy petty officer is facing charges in a Jamaica jail after she allegedly hired hitmen to kill a mother and her 10-month-old daughter.
Leoda Bradshaw, a Navy petty officer assigned to a talent acquisition team in Miami, has been charged with murder and kidnapping in a murder-for-hire kidnapping scheme involving Jamaican mother Toshyna Patterson and her daughter Sarayah, per NBC6.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution in Jamaica, Bradshaw and her cousin hired two men to kill Patterson and her daughter. The hitmen allegedly shot the mother and child before burning them.
“It is one of the most painful investigations for the team since recent times. However, the team of investigators continue to be professional and remain focused,” a Jamaican official said.
Officials identified the child as the daughter of Phillip Paulwell, a Jamaican member of Parliament. Prosecutors have alleged that Bradshaw and Paulwell were in a relationship, and the suspect considered the Parliament member her spouse.
Paulwell addressed the killing on social media.
“That anyone could murder a mother and an innocent baby is unimaginable and my heart is heavy with sadness … I am praying for Tashyna's family who I know are experiencing the unbearable grief and pain of losing their beloved daughter and granddaughter," he said in a statement.
In a statement, the U.S. Navy said it "…takes all allegations of misconduct seriously and is fully cooperating with appropriate investigative and law enforcement authorities. The matter is currently under investigation by Jamaican authorities and the Navy Criminal Investigative Service."
Bradshaw is set to appear in court in December.
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