A 14-year-old girl and resident at the Willamae Pratt Centre for Girls was found hanged Monday at the institution and while police and officials at the Ministry Of Social Services said they are investigating an apparent suicide, the girl’s family is convinced something more sinister happened.

The mother of Government High School 10th grader Tasha McDonald, who was only identified as Bridgette, said she is not buying that story and added that she believes her daughter was murdered.

“My child is not on any medication, she would never do this to herself, she’s not simple,” the mother screamed. “That’s a murder that happened there. My child was murdered.”

The visibly distraught mother said she is now seeking answers into the death of her teenage daughter who, according to ministry sources, was found hanged in a room at the Williemae Pratt Centre for girls Monday morning.

According to a brief statement from the ministry, police are investigating an apparent suicide.

“They didn’t say anything to me,” she added. “I asked them if I could see my daughter’s body and they wouldn’t let me.

“They run us off the property and tell us to go to the morgue (Tuesday). I have to see my daughter in the morgue.”

Family members said Tasha was on remand at the centre since Wednesday and was serving a second stint at the institution.

Her 24-year-old sister, who did not want to be identified, said the family got the call around 10:00 a.m. that something serious had happened and that her sister was dead but since then, she said they have not gotten any more information.

“I heard she was in a room by herself or with other girls who she had an altercation with at the centre,” she said. “But no one is giving us any information as to what happened. It’s like they are being secretive about something but I know someone in there had something to do with her death.

“My sister is not crazy and she is not going to kill herself. She has all her senses; she’s not going to kill herself.”

Tasha is the youngest of four children and one of her cousins, who also wanted to remain anonymous, said she knows all too well about what happens at the centre after having spent some time there herself.

“I can’t see how my cousin could go there for just three days and get killed,” Tasha’s cousin said. “I believe they ganged her and then they separated them and put them in different rooms. I think when she asked to use the bathroom one of the girls caught her from behind.”

“My little sister is a bubbly person, she’s not a sad person,” her sister added. “She might have had some problems but she will not kill herself. She lives with me and I know and they’re saying she killed herself. I’m not buying that story.”

Despite these theories and beliefs, on the scene yesterday morning was Head of the Central Detective Unit (CDU) Chief Superintendent Paul Rolle who was pretty much tight-lipped on the matter.

“Her Majesty’s Coroner is in charge of this investigation, she is here and the police are assisting her,” Chief Superintendent Rolle added. “We can confirm that a female in ward is deceased and the coroner will be taking over from here.”

In the meantime, ministry officials said grief counseling is being provided for the staff and other residents of the centre.