Mysterious Vanishings Haunt the Caribbean Island of Antigua

A wave of unexplained vanishings haunts the tiny Caribbean island of Antigua, leaving families in limbo and local police under scrutiny. As more people disappear without a trace, urgent questions arise about whether this is a true epidemic—or something darker.

A Growing Number of Missing Islanders

For Patricia Joseph, the mental torment never ends. According to BBC interviews, she endures “gut-wrenching” moments imagining how her mother, 74-year-old Hyacinth Gage, spent her final hours—or whether those hours even happened. Hyacinth vanished on an ordinary day in May 2019, dressed in a distinctive orange-lined raincoat. Patricia finds herself scanning the streets for that coat still six years later.

“It’s the not knowing,” she told BBC. “It’s horrible. You wonder if she was scared if she suffered. There’s no closure.” Hyacinth’s case is not unique. She is just one name in a troubling pattern of disappearances in Antigua that defies easy explanation. The island’s police force has come under fire, accused of doing too little or doing it too late, which leaves families like Patricia’s in an endless agony of unanswered questions.

Local activists report at least nine people disappeared in Antigua within two years – this is a high number for an island with about 100,000 people. Many think the actual number is higher.

The disappearances caused guesses that included police failure and organ-trafficking groups – this worsened the feelings of fear plus dissatisfaction. A recent matter related to a girl of nine whose body someone located two days after her disappearance in March stirred public rage plus demands for change within institutions.

Patricia told how she became her own investigator when Hyacinth went missing – she tracked her mother’s paths, she spoke with witnesses and she returned to the hospital where Hyacinth was last present. She managed to confirm that her mother completed scheduled blood tests but never arrived for an electrocardiogram. Someone gave Hyacinth a ride at some point, but from there, the trail goes cold. “Police told us to stop investigating, and then got annoyed when we kept asking questions,” Patricia said to BBC.

Anniversaries are the hardest. Hyacinth would have turned 80 on March 6 of this year. Instead of celebration, Patricia spent the day alone, yearning for the mother whose absence has left an aching void in her life.

Mounting Theories and Community Fear

Suspicions abound as to why Antigua, a mere 108 square miles in size, has an unusually high tally of unsolved vanishings. While no official data has been shared publicly by authorities, anecdotal evidence suggests the number of cases dwarfs those in neighboring islands of comparable or even larger populations. Some blame structural issues within Antigua’s under-resourced police force. Others suspect something more sinister. “Other islands locate bodies eventually,” Patricia related to BBC. She also remarked, “Here, there’s this huge puzzle: we just don’t know where they are.”

She questions if criminal groups are responsible – or if an organ-trafficking operation attacks defenseless people. She learned stories that a kidnapping may act as a start for criminal organizations. However, the authorities neither accept nor deny these ideas. Speaking to BBC, Acting Police Commissioner Everton Jeffers acknowledged a “room for improvement” in how the force engages the public. He also admitted that speculation about organ trafficking has floated around. “We haven’t seen any direct evidence,” he said, “but we keep an open mind.”

Some cases ended. In March, the disappearance of a child concluded sadly when someone located her body two days later – this occurrence caused marches and outrage across the island. A woman faces a murder charge in that instance; it gives certain answers for a family. But the fate of many persons is still obscure – they stay missing. Still, the fate of many missing persons remains unknown. Families are left with an emptiness that can last years, even decades.

Such is the experience of those who have linked up with Patricia, forging informal support networks to share tips, prayers, and heartbreak. Patricia plans to formalize these connections into an advocacy group, pressuring the Antiguan government to request outside investigative help. “This isn’t random anymore,” she stressed in her conversation with BBC. “This is serious. It’s a crisis.”

Aaron—an activist operating under a pseudonym due to threats—has assembled a list of nearly 60 missing Antiguans, more than a third in the last decade. His tally suggests that men represent about two-thirds of the total, with ages ranging from teenage years to people in their seventies. “I’ve personally experienced this pain,” he told BBC. “One of my family members disappeared, and another was murdered. Many families never see justice.”

He doesn’t shy away from speculation. “While some might be involved in criminal activity, it doesn’t explain the huge numbers. People talk about organ harvesting or other conspiracies. We don’t have proof, but the fear is real.”

Police Response and a Plea for Help

Police Chief Jeffers told BBC that while the force “can’t do everything,” they do follow up on leads as best they can, given limited personnel and finances. DNA testing, for instance, must be outsourced internationally because Antigua lacks a forensic laboratory. That will change soon, says Director of Forensic Services Michael Murrell, who explained that a new local facility is in the works—though it may still be some time before full DNA testing becomes available. “We need more resources across the board,” Jeffers conceded.

Small shifts offer little comfort to the kin of the missing. Gregory Bailey’s son, Kevorn, age 26, vanished in August 2022 after a strange phone call. To the BBC, Gregory told the police how he had asked the police for information about that call and who had made it – no solid answers exist. He related, “It’s like a part of me is missing,” his voice shook. “People say, ‘Do you want closure?’ I can’t face the idea of him in a coffin. I’d rather picture him alive.” He tries to keep missing-person posters up, yet can’t stand to look at them near his own home.

Similar pain resonates for friends of 39-year-old Orden David, gone since January after failing to come home from a casino. His burnt-out car was discovered, but no other trace. Orden’s close friend, Alline Henry, told BBC that not knowing “if he’s being held, tortured, or if something worse happened is the hardest part.” She wishes for outside expertise, reminiscent of international interventions that have helped crack difficult cases in other jurisdictions.

Politicians pledged fast work. It includes a special team for missing people and securing dogs that locate bodies. Whether those actions arrive quickly and produce real change needs assessment.

Some critics show worry about a justice system. It adapts slowly – especially if corruption exists within law enforcement. “No police force in the world is perfect,” Jeffers said, “but 90% of our officers are good.” Families like Patricia’s besides Gregory’s still lack conviction. Each day passes without answers. It adds to their desperation.

In Antigua’s connected towns, each loss has an effect. Someone knows the missing person – a friend, neighbor or relative. News travels fast also it creates fear besides guesses. But solutions stay out of reach. “It is time to take serious action,” Patricia Joseph stated. “I hope they don’t wait until it happens to someone close to them before they decide to look at these cases with fresh eyes.”

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That overwhelming emotion is sorrow for families stuck in painful uncertainty. On an island famous for clear waters and warm beaches, a hidden problem exists – it grows just below awareness. Without real changes – not just nice words – Antigua’s secrets might expand. These secrets pull more people into a deep, unsure place.