The mother of slain public servant Kimberly De Leon is speaking out with renewed determination after police revealed that critical evidence in her daughter’s murder investigation has gone missing, a revelation she says, though disturbing, comes as no surprise.
Mary Williams, who has spent nearly seven years demanding answers and accountability in the brutal 2018 killing of her daughter, is now reacting to Thursday’s bombshell disclosure by Police Commissioner Verne Garde that a firearm believed to be pivotal to the case has vanished.
“I still have to wait, I am still pressing on, I will not give up,” Williams said in a firm yet weary voice during an interview with Saint Lucia Daily Post. “I will continue to press on because I want to get to the bottom of this; to know the person responsible for my daughter’s death will be brought to justice.”
Commissioner Garde made the stunning announcement at a press conference, revealing that the firearm had been removed from its sealed location at the Special Services Unit Armory and is now unaccounted for. He described the situation as “very unfortunate” and “very sad,” confirming that the De Leon family had been informed.
But for Mary Williams, the notion of missing evidence, while enraging, did not come as a shock.
“While I find it’s very suspicious, I’m not surprised. It is not new to me,” she said. “It’s just that I am hearing it from them now, but news that the evidence went missing is not new to me.”
Her remarks suggest a long-standing lack of confidence in the system and echo the frustration of many Saint Lucians who have grown disillusioned with the pace and integrity of justice in high-profile cases.
De Leon, an accountant and mother of two was found shot to death in her Morne Fortune home in October 2018. Her husband, a police officer, was named a person of interest early in the investigation but was later cleared. The case has since stagnated, with little public progress, until recently.
Commissioner Garde had disclosed that a major breakthrough had revived hopes of solving the case, only to be quickly derailed by the missing weapon. He acknowledged the possibility of deeper institutional issues, even hinting at sabotage or obstruction from within law enforcement itself.
For Williams, the fight continues. She says she is willing to allow Commissioner Garde time to follow through on his commitment to pursue justice but made clear that patience is running thin.
“I will wait for a few more engagements with the Police Commissioner for updates, especially as it relates to that key piece of missing evidence.”
