Don’t turn off WhatsApp ‘last seen’ - Grieving mom says feature could be a lifesaver

Reflecting on the murder of her son Michael Patterson, Charmaine Grant is urging persons to pay closer attention to small signs, such as the WhatsApp 'last seen' activity, which she said was the first indication that something was wrong.

Patterson was a third-year University of Technology, Jamaica engineering student who was murdered and his body dumped in St Catherine.

"It's imperative to not turn it (last seen) off, because, if I wasn't accustomed to him always being online, it would have taken longer for him to be found, and more evidence would be destroyed. But I told my daughter something is wrong because I just knew that's not him," Grant said.

WhatsApp 'last seen' is a feature that shows the last time a user was active on the app.

According to police reports, Patterson, who worked as a security guard and an inDrive taxi operator to support himself, was last seen alive on February 20 after he was requested to transport passengers to the Hartlands area in Spanish Town. He was last seen sometime before 10 p.m. and was later reported missing.

But, that night, Grant, who resides in England, said she became alarmed when she noticed her son's online status had stopped updating -- something she immediately found unusual.

"That was the first indicator that something was wrong. By the next day, I raised the alarm because I was like 'Nah that's not Michael'," she explained, noting that a family member later went to check his home in Spanish Town. There, residents indicated that he had left for work and had not returned.

On February 23, Patterson's body was found in an early state of decomposition in a canal in the Hartlands district, off Old Harbour Road. Later that same day, lawmen intercepted his motor car in the Manchester Police Division, leading to the arrest of two individuals who are now before the court. A post-mortem confirmed that Patterson died from gunshot wounds.

The grieving mother, who said she relied heavily on the WhatsApp feature, opined that it is important for loved ones to keep it active and to monitor each other.

"I wish I had raised the alarm earlier, but I thought he was with his girlfriend, but it can save lives. Just keep it on, you can inform loved ones if you are going out, tell someone where you are going," she said.

Barbara Gardner and Tevin Austin, both of Manchester, were charged with murder, robbery with aggravation, possession of a prohibited weapon, unauthorised possession of ammunition, using a firearm to commit a felony, unauthorised access to computer data, and conspiracy to murder.

They were previously charged with larceny of a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property.