ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica— A St Elizabeth man has been charged with the murder of his sister, Iyanla Hicks, at their family home in Sunny Heights, Thornton district in the parish.

Police charged Daniel Francis otherwise called ‘Cuttie’, a resident of Thornton.

Twenty-year-old Hicks was found dead by one of her siblings last Friday evening, police say.

A police report said she was found lying in blood in her room by a different sibling who visited the family home after kicking off the room’s door. Police theorise that Hicks was killed sometime between 4:30 pm and 7:00 pm on Friday.

Her brother, who is said to be of unsound mind, was taken into police custody as a suspect before being charged with murder on Sunday.

The incident is the first recorded murder in St Elizabeth for this year.

A shovel was reportedly found in Francis’ room during a search of the family home.

His court date is to be finalised.

Hicks’ killing sent shockwaves through northern St Elizabeth particularly at Aberdeen High where she was a HEART/ NSTA trainee.

Read: Aberdeen High mourns trainee’s death at home

— Kasey Williams