Fire Claims Life of Mentally Ill Man in Clarendon

Tragedy struck in Effortvile, Clarendon on Wednesday, October 6, as fire claimed the life of a mentally ill man who is said to be mentally ill.

As a grieving mother and a brother weeps, the body of the mentally ill man, Euguene Mcpherson was removed from his house that was razed by fire in Oliver Gardens, Effortville, Clarendon, on Wednesday, October 6.

Minutes after 9 am residents sounded an alarm after they saw smoke billowing from the house. The fire department was alerted and after several hours they managed to extinguish the blaze.

One resident gave his account of the incident, he noted upon arrival he say the fire brigade on the scene. The resident says when the fire was extinguished and they were told that McPherson was found in the bath tub unresponsive. He described McPherson as an upstanding individual, this before he started experiencing mental challenges.

A Justice of the Peace who resides in the community is calling for more to be done in protecting mentally challenged people in Jamaica. She noted her concern about the treatment of mentally challenged people in Jamaica. She says several attempts were made to get help for McPherson but to no avail. 

More in this CVM Live story from Robian Williams: