Second woman charged in relation to discovery of senior's mummified body in Westmoreland
Published:Wednesday | July 16, 2025 | 7:08 PM
Several charges have been laid against another Westmoreland woman following the discovery of the mummified body of 69-year-old Viola Destin in Old Hope district, Little London, in the parish on July 6.
Forty-nine-year-old Lavern Wedderburn of Rocky Hill in Sheffield is the second person to be charged in the matter, joining 54-year-old Gena Robinson of Old Hope district.
They have been charged with concealment of a corpse, preventing the lawful burial of a corpse, perverting the course of justice, conspiracy to concealment of a corpse and conspiracy to prevent the lawful burial of a corpse.
The Savanna-la-Mar police say Wedderburn saw Destin begging in Savanna-la-Mar sometime in 2023 and told Robinson about her situation.
Robinson and Wedderburn then sought advice from a pastor overseas, and following his instructions, they started to care for Destin.
Shortly after, Destin became gravely ill and was moved to Robinson’s house in the Old Hope district, where she died on December 10, 2023.
The police allege that following her death, the caregivers opted to conceal the body inside a room at the house and sprinkled it with chemicals and baking soda to keep the stench down.
One of Robinson's relatives reportedly stumbled upon the makeshift grave at the house on July 6 and summoned the police.
On their arrival, the mummified remains of the elderly woman were found covered beneath sheets, plastic and tarpaulin.
Following the discovery, the scene was processed, and the remains were transported to the morgue pending a post-mortem.
Robinson was taken into custody the very same day the body was found and Wedderburn arrested three days later.
They were charged on Tuesday after they gave caution statements.
The police say they also confessed to the roles they played in question-and-answer sessions in the presence of two justices of the peace.
A court date is being finalised for them.
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