Another agonizing week for the family of a missing Vieux Fort man. Michael ‘Coco’ Blaze, 21, has been MIA since November 24, following his release from police custody. At a press briefing on Monday, police superintendent George Nicholas confirmed a missing person report had been filed. He said Blaze was arrested in Vieux Fort on November 22 and held for two days at the Choiseul police station in relation to a robbery. Nicholas said Blaze was released on the 24 November 2019, and has not been seen since.
Nicholas added: “The evidence was not substantial, so the suspect was released.” He declined comment on rumors that Blaze had mental issues. “We’re asking persons with information to come forward to assist us in locating this gentleman,” he said. “The major crime unit has been assigned to carry out an investigation into this report of a missing person.”
The family claims the police told them Blaze was released at around 6:40 pm on November 24 but that a review of the camera footage indicated that it was after 9:00 pm when Blaze was set free. A relative told the STAR on Wednesday that the family had searched for Blaze all over Choiseul, to no avail. “It is hard for us to understand how the police released him in Choiseul at the time they said, and he never came home. He knows how to take a bus, or if he doesn’t have money for bus, he will walk. It is very strange.”
On Tuesday, Kenny Anthony, the MP for Vieux Fort South, stated in a press release that he was “deeply troubled” by Blaze’s disappearance. He also expressed concern for the family. “The children in the Mangue are traumatized by Coco’s unexplained disappearance. Understandably, the family needs answers and very quickly. While Coco has a history of autism, he is a sensible, kind, warm and jovial individual. I have known him since he was a child. I pray that he is alive and well somewhere.”
