Umm Kulthum Abdulkareem

On the morning of October 21, 2022, a man visiting the beach would find a semi-naked decomposing body floating with wounds on her head and neck in Montego Bay, Jamaica. After the police were called to retrieve the body they soon discovered that it belonged to 35-year-old Aneka Townsend, a popular influencer in Jamaica. Just the day before, she was strangled by a man she had recently met. This lively young woman, whose confident presence had lit up social media and drawn thousands of fans, had met an untimely and tragic end with her body discarded by a monster. This is the Tragic story of Aneka Townsend whose death left many unanswered questions. As we explore the details of what occurred that night, we offer our sincerest condolences to Aneka Townsend’s family, friends, and the many admirers she touched through her vibrant life. Also, we would like to take this crime case as a close reminder to everyone, to be careful with who we trust. Aneka Townsend was born on December 6, 1986, and she was also known as “Kayan” to family and friends and “Slickianna" to fans. She was living in Montego Bay, a city known for its tourist attractions and beautiful coastlines. This bustling city had become where Aneka found both opportunity and success, particularly through her growing social media presence. Aneka's roots were firmly planted in Jamaica, She grew up in a waterhouse, St Andrew as the second child among four children. Aneka had a close relationship with her mother, Joy Smith, who was often seen as her pillar of strength. She also had three siblings, including her brother, with whom she shared a tight bond. In her early years, she attended Marverley Primary School, leaving after six years to further her education at the Edith Dalton James High School. While there are not many records of her college education, everyone who knew her said that she had a superb fashion sense which would later help her gain followers on Instagram. Throughout her life, Aneka remained closely linked to her Jamaican roots, having been born and raised there. The cultural vibrancy and scenic beauty of Jamaica were the main focus of the content she shared on her social platforms, offering her followers a glimpse into her world. One part of her life she did not share on social media was her time with her son. You see, Aneka had a 12-year-old son but she kept her life with him private and separate from social media. However, her family praised her as a loving mother and they themselves were her biggest supporters, always cheering her on as she expanded her presence online and in the world of fashion. Aneka was extremely popular in Jamaica. She was the typical “Instagram baddie” who loved to live life, dress nice, and get her hair, makeup, and nails done. All of these contributed to her 300 thousand Instagram followers. Quite frankly, she was an influencer who had several endorsement deals. In fact, she was the official ambassador for a company called Daylight Ibiza which hosts elegant and luxury events. It was obvious that Aneka had this star power because it seemed like she was a celebrity in Jamaica. She had an outspoken personality, knew she was beautiful, and wore outfits that resonated with her beauty. Because she was someone with a strong social media presence, she knew how to work her magic on followers. After building a strong following on Instagram, Aneka created a successful clothing business called slickpiecesja where she sold female outfits from shoes, bodysuits, dresses, two pieces - basically anything fashionable. Remember, people praised her for her sharp fashion sense so she used this to make money. Aneka reaped the fruits of her hard work because on July 21, 2022, exactly three months before she was brutally murdered, she posted a video of a brand new Suzuki car she had bought on Instagram. It was obvious that she had big plans for the future. Those closest to her knew she dreamed of expanding her influence into the world of fashion and entertainment beyond social media. She envisioned a brand that represented who she was – a strong, stylish, and ambitious woman. Just days before her unfortunate passing, On October 18th, 2022 she posted on TikTok a video of herself holding what seemed to be apartment keys, showing us her name and apartment with the caption “new beginnings”. Sadly, barely a week later her dreams were tragically cut short before they could fully materialize. So how did it all end for Aneka and who is the monster that brought her fast-trending life to an end? Let’s answer these burning questions. By the way, I post true crime and strange cases here weekly, so if that sounds like your kind of thing, please consider subscribing, it helps a lot. On the 20th of October, two days before her body was found, Aneka had traveled from Kingston to Montego Bay, where she was meeting with a 33-year-old man named Rushawn “Chizzie” Patterson. These two were not known as a long-term couple and there is no mention of Rushawn being her boyfriend. Most likely, they were still both getting to know each other before moving on to the next stage of the relationship. In a comment on social media, it was revealed that she met Rushawn Patterson on Instagram and they had only been texting for 12 days. However, this information is not reliable. Rushawn picked her up around 7:30 p.m. and the two visited a restaurant in Hanover and then proceeded to a guest house in St. James to spend the night. However, at some point during the night, an argument escalated between them, leading to Rushawn strangling Townsend and later disposing of her body. It is unclear whether he had any help in doing this but somehow he was able to successfully leave the guest house and dump Aneka’s body in the ocean. At about 9:30 am Aneka’s body was found by the beachgoers who immediately contacted the local authorities. Officers from the Marine Division Jamaica Constabulary Force were brought to help in retrieving her deceased body. Her body was found semi-naked with injuries around her head and neck. A towel covered in blood and a wig were also pulled out along with her body from the sea. A forensic team would later determine that Townsend was murdered between 11:00 pm on October 20 and 9:00 am on October 21. As the last person to have been in contact with Aneka, Rushawn was named a person of interest in a press release issued by the police on the 22nd of October, 2022. The police stated his involvement in the case could not be overlooked as they believed he could greatly assist with investigations so he should visit the police station by 5 pm that same day but Rushawn refused to make himself available upon request. Maybe he thought that he could remain in hiding but after many appeals for him to turn himself over to the police for interrogation, he was found at a guest house during a high-level intelligence-driven operation on November 2nd, 2022, and later arrested. It was after this man was arrested that it was discovered that in Montego Bay, Aneka wasn’t dealing with just any man. She was dealing with a predator – a man who had harmed women before and clearly had no intention of stopping. On November 11, 2022, Rushawn was charged with first-degree murder but he was not going to jail alone. A 47-year-old security guard, Rohan Rose, was also charged with misprision of a felony in the matter. Rohan’s case was because he either aided the crime or refused to immediately contact the authorities. Although it was not specifically mentioned how long these two would spend in Jail, because they haven’t yet gone to trial, Rushawn could spend a long time in jail and may even be given capital punishment which is a legal penalty in Jamaica. Currently, the only crime punishable by death is aggravated murder and the method of execution is hanging. In a shocking twist, it wasn’t just Aneka’s murder Rushawn was facing in court. We discover that Rushawn was also charged with abduction and assault with intent to rob his ex-girlfriend stemming from an incident that occurred on November 3, 2018. Rushawn had been charged with abduction and assaulting another woman, his ex-girlfriend, in 2018. The woman had met up with Rushawn at a gas station, and things escalated quickly. He got violent, demanding to know intimate details about her current boyfriend, hitting her, and even threatening to kill her. Without her consent, he drove off, trapping her in a situation beyond her control. He sounds like someone who believes that he is above the law. Along a deserted road, Rushawn allegedly assaulted the woman, delivering blows to her body and gripping her neck with intent to harm. In a disturbing twist, he demanded money from her, but she refused. Rushawn's rage escalated, and he allegedly threatened to end her life and dispose of her remains. The fear that must have coursed through her veins is unimaginable. Desperate to survive, she managed to calm him, assuring him that no police report would be filed. However, as soon as Rushawn returned her to safety, she immediately reported the horrifying incident to the authorities. He is also connected to a 2014 sexual assault case where he tried killing a woman by slashing her throat after sexually assaulting her. The case was dismissed in 2017 after the victim failed to turn up for court. But the question lingers — why was someone as unstable as he left alone to walk freely without any punishment or professional help? Many people have questioned the justice system in Jamaica and wondered why Rushawn was not rotting in jail. Rushawn’s court bail proceedings had been under scrutiny since his arrest. He presented himself in the St. James Circuit court where he would return to court for trial. He also asked for bail which is often granted based on the judge’s assessment of the accused’s history, character, and the crime’s nature. For Rushawn, given the severity of his charges and the risk he posed, the court had to carefully weigh whether his release would be safe for the public. Rushawn’s lawyers argued for his release on bail, presenting him as a person who would comply with the law and not pose any flight risk. However, prosecutors had strong objections, emphasizing the seriousness of the accusations against him. They feared that if released, he could harm witnesses or fail to return for trial. Justice Andrea Thomas, making her ruling, said the allegations are serious and sufficient to show that, if granted bail, the accused will likely abscond. He was not granted bail because, among other reasons, Rushawn is a flight risk, and, based on his history, if given bail, he may not show up for court. His Lawyer, Meyer Barett, also brought evidence by presenting a medical report regarding the medical condition of her client. She further states that since Rushawn had been in custody, he was seen on numerous occasions both at a Hospital and had a private doctor who was told to come to the cell and check up on him because of the condition he was in. She also added that her client was in danger of being in custody and this was because a recent report on glass pieces was found inside the porridge he had. This discovery was made only after he had a few sips. If this statement is to be believed, it would seem like Rushawn is not particularly liked by the public including the people in prison. Maybe people want to take getting him off the streets in their own hands. There have been at least two attempts to secure bail for Patterson, the first one taking place on March 21 2023 and the second application being made months later, on October 4. 2023 both of which were denied by the Judge. Patterson’s last noted court date following those two appearances was on December 19. The hearing dates have been rescheduled several times and he still has not been officially given a sentence. Aneka Townsend was laid to rest 5 days before what would have been her 36th birthday at Dovecot Memorial Park in St Catherine on Thursday after a brief service at Webster Memorial United Church in St Andrew. She was dressed in white from top to bottom in a casket adorned with her photographs. Aneka “Slickiana” Townsend looked the part of a “precious gem,” as described in her funeral program. To honor Aneka, family and friends wore red which was her favorite color. Her mother’s pain was raw and heartbreaking to experience during the funeral. According to the aunt, the mother and daughter last spoke on October 19; just one day after they had a birthday dinner for Joy Smith. The next news she would hear about her daughter was that her body was discovered. Aneka’s coffin was adorned with several flowers placed by family and friends because she was buried. The discovery of her death shocked not only her family but also the online community that had followed her. She was a mother to an amazing boy whose information is being kept anonymous, she was a daughter, sister, niece, and a role model to those who followed her. What makes this story even more gut-wrenching is the fact that Aneka’s final moments were filled with betrayal and violence. The post-mortem revealed she was strangled to death before being shot. Her life was taken in the most brutal, intimate way possible. Strangulation is up close and personal. It’s slow. It’s terrifying. And the person doing it watches as the life drains from their victim's eyes. Imagine being in that moment, realizing you’re powerless, knowing the person you trusted is about to kill you. And then, of course, there’s the aftermath. Aneka’s son – her little boy who loved her so much – will now grow up without a mother. Her friends and family are left to mourn a life stolen from them. And for what? What did she do to deserve this? Nothing. Aneka didn’t provoke Patterson. She wasn’t violent. She wasn’t combative. She was a woman trying to live her life, raise her child, and build her brand. Yet, that wasn’t enough to protect her. The circumstances surrounding her death remain a point of deep sorrow and mystery for her loved ones and her fans alike. Many questions remain unanswered, What was the argument about? What was said to have aggravated Rushawn to the point of taking such a sinister act? Did he plan to murder her or was it a crime of passion? What do you think? It’s painful to think how a brief encounter could end in tragedy. It’s important to trust our instincts and prioritize our safety in every situation. Let people in your circle know about your plans, and if something feels off, don’t hesitate to leave or ask for help. Aneka’s story is a powerful and heartbreaking lesson. To her family, we extend our deepest condolences. The loss of Aneka Townsend is felt by many, and her legacy will continue to live on through the lives she touched and her son. Her presence in the world of social media may be gone, but her memory will remain forever in the hearts of those who loved and knew her. Thank you so much once again for watching another video by Wednesday Crime, if you like the way we bring to your stories or you learned something new today, please like this video and consider subscribing to the channel if you haven’t yet. As always, remember to leave your thoughts in the comments section below perhaps someone learns from your experience or advice. I will talk to you again in another video, it's a bye for now. https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/news-slickianna-found-dead-video-internet-condemns-circulation-viral-footage-aneka-townsend-passes-away https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2023/03/22/lawyer-says-slickianna-murder-accused-client-in-danger/ https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2022/12/01/slickianna-remembered-as-loyal-friend-committed-mother-at-funeral/