More than six weeks after the mysterious death of 28 years-old Liberian woman Patience Garmai Mulbah, her grieving family says they are still waiting for answers as her body remains at the John F. Kennedy Medical Center morgue and the investigation into her death appears to be at a standstill.
Speaking publicly for the first time, Jartu Kamotoe, the deceased’s aunt and guardian, expressed frustration over what she described as delays, conflicting information, and a lack of communication from authorities regarding the case.
According to Kamotoe, Patience was last seen by family members on April 22. The following morning, she received shocking phone calls informing her that her niece’s body had been discovered lying along the 72nd Boulevard Road in Monrovia.
“I didn’t believe it at first,” Kamotoe recounted. “But another person called with the same information. By the time I rushed to the scene, the police had already removed the body.”
The family said initial inquiries led them to the Liberia National Police, where they were informed that the body had been transferred for forensic examination.
Kamotoe alleged that investigators later identified a man, Henry B. Ballah, described as the deceased’s boyfriend, as a key suspect in the case. According to information allegedly provided to the family by police, Ballah claimed that he was escorting Patience home from Private Bar night club in Paynesville when they were attacked by armed robbers. During the alleged confrontation, Patience was killed while he sustained serious injuries, including a broken jaw and damaged teeth.
However, the family says doubts began to emerge as the investigation progressed.
Kamotoe claimed that when relatives sought to see the suspect, they observed him heavily bandaged.
Yet, subsequent visits and inquiries reportedly raised questions about the severity of the injuries police had described.
Adding to the family’s concerns, Kamotoe said forensic investigators allegedly informed them that evidence pointed to possible foul play, a development that deepened their suspicion that crucial details surrounding Patience’s death remain unresolved.
The family further alleges that despite repeated visits to police headquarters and the Ministry of Justice, they have received no conclusive update on the status of the investigation. They claim that requests for information have been met with repeated instructions to return at a later date.
“Our daughter is gone, but we need justice,” Kamotoe said emotionally. “Every day we are told to come back tomorrow. We have spent money we don’t have traveling from office to office, and still we have no answers.”
The prolonged delay has also left the family unable to bury their loved one. According to relatives, Patience’s remains have remained at the JFK morgue since April 23, nearly two months after her death.
Kamotoe is now appealing to the Government of Liberia, human rights organizations, women’s advocacy groups, and the international community to intervene and ensure that the case receives thorough and transparent attention.
“If this case is ignored, it could happen to someone else’s daughter tomorrow,” she warned. “We are asking all Liberians to stand with us and help us get justice for Patience.”
At the time of publication, authorities had not publicly responded to the family’s latest allegations. The Liberia National Police and the Ministry of Justice are yet to provide an official update on the status of the investigation.
Meanwhile, family members have vowed to protest in demand of Justice for their daughter if the requisite authorities failed to provide justice for the deceased.
