Malvo's mom stays underground

Jamaica Observer ^ | 12/17/02 | T K WHYTE

[TexKat]

Michael Clarke, a nephew of Una James, the mother of Jamaican sniper suspect Lee Boyd Malvo, speaks with reporters in Brinkley district, St Elizabeth, Sunday.

UNA James, the mother of Jamaican sniper suspect, Lee Boyd Malvo, remained underground yesterday, frustrating attempts by local and foreign journalists to interview her.

At the same time, James, who was deported from the United States last Saturday, was reported by a relative to be worried about her son who she feels was indoctrinated by his stepfather, John Allen Muhammad, the other sniper suspect.

Una James' unfinished house in Brinkley district, St Elizabeth which her nephew said she started building before going abroad. (Photo: John Nicholson) James' nephew, Michael Clarke, told local and foreign journalists in Brinkley district, St Elizabeth Sunday that James called him from Washington DC three weeks ago and spoke about her 17 year-old son who, along with Muhammad, was arrested in October and charged with 13 murders from a series of sniper shootings in Virginia, Georgia, Alabama and Washington DC.

"She was worried about her son, and told me that he fell into bad influence and he was brainwashed. She said Lee had chosen the bad road and she can't help him because she has her own life to live," said Clarke, who lives at James' unfinished house with her mother, 73 year-old Epsey James.

According to Clarke, James had called him last week Monday, saying that she wanted to come home but did not tell him of any arrangements to do so.

James, who used false documents provided by Muhammad to enter the US from Antigua in 1999, was ordered deported on November 20 after she was picked up by Immigration and Naturalisation Service agents.

She failed to file an appeal within 30 days of the deportation order, opting instead to apply for voluntary departure, which was refused.

She was escorted to Jamaica by four US Marshals on one of their special aircraft and was whisked away from the Norman Manley Airport through a side exit by family members to avoid an encounter with Jamaican and American journalists from CBS News, New York Times, Washington Post, Newsweek, Miami Herald and the Associated Press.

Police have remained tightlipped about her Jamaican address, but on Sunday, information circulated that James was staying with her mother in Brinkley.

This, however, proved untrue and it was speculated that she was staying with someone in Kingston.

"We hear that she is in the island since Saturday, but she don't contact any of us and we don't know anything of her whereabouts," Clarke said Sunday. "We surprise that she don't come here yet, for this is her house. She start build it before she go a foreign."

Reporters were not permitted to talk with Epsey, who Clarke said was sick and was apparently overcome by the number of journalists who had visited her home.

"She can't talk now because she frustrated about the whole thing, you know," said Clarke. "The truth is, she is not quite coherent and she won't say anything to you, but I know she don't feel good about Lee. She don't feel good, she feel bad, bad."

According to Clarke, Malvo grew up with his grandmother who took care of him up to the time he left Jamaica.

[TexKat]

bump.

[tracer]

I surprise too that she don't come there yet........

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

At the same time, James, who was deported from the United States last Saturday, was reported by a relative to be worried about her son who she feels was indoctrinated by his stepfather, John Allen Muhammad, the other sniper suspect.

Hold the boat, what Muhammad his stepfather or not? James would have had to have married Muhammad for him to be the stepfather of Malvo.

What the heck is going on here!

[TexKat]

James would have had to have married Muhammad for him to be the stepfather of Malvo.

She would have been allowed to stay here if she had married Mohammad I believe. But stepfather is what the article says.

[holyscroller]

My thoughts exactly. If she had married an American, she could have come here legally. They're probably insinuating it was a common law marriage. It's probably safe to assume anything we hear at this point is pure spin. She sure sounds like a loving mom, doesn't she?

[sheik yerbouty]

Put her son and his "dad" underground too.

[sniper223heavya3]

they both need to burn!

[holyscroller]

6 feet under!

[sniper223heavya3]

have they even got in to the courts yet?

[wingnuts'nbolts]

It is sad, for the grandmother and the mother. And they are right this American did brainwash this boy. His mother has every reason to worry, he isn't going to be alright.

[TexKat]

His mother has every reason to worry, he isn't going to be alright.

What is so very sad, is that Una James will have to live with the execution of her son on her conscience for the rest of her days. She is right back where she started from, but her 17 year old son is not.

[Future Useless Eater]

thanks for the ping,

Just how many 'coincidences' are we expected to believe?

Muhammad was attracted to All Nations BAR over a year ago, before it was closed down as a neighborhood nuisance. He was attracted AGAIN in August when it was a RESTAURANT, and again in September.

The Jamaican OWNER says he does NOT KNOW Muhammad, and has NEVER had any business with him.

But now we hear from the Jamaican spokesman for Una James,
her nephew Michael Clarke.
Oh... the name of the Restaurant OWNER who DOES NOT know Muhammad?
Its also... Michael Clarke.

I'm sure its just another 'coincidence'.

[Freedom2specul8]

ping

[Future Useless Eater]

Muhammad is no stepfather to Malvo, though he was sort of
an 'adopted' father for about 1.5 years. He and Una
cohabitated briefly in Antigua, and maybe very briefly
in Florida. Una married a guy here - last name Neal i think.
that was very short lived and he wasnt a citizen.

As for courts, Malvo is on deck first. They would have
preferred he went 2nd in order to get the easier sentencing
like McVeigh vs Nichols. But Malvo is having an 18th
birthday in Feb, so everyone is obliging him by letting
him hurry into court starting JANUARY. Muhammad goes next
starting OCTOBER 2003. Kinda dumb cause that would be
the anniversary, so without a doubt it will be postponed
about 3 more months until January 2004.

They should just let Alabama have them now, and spare us
the bother in the other states.

We've never seen a picture of ol' Una (yet) but they say
she is short, round, and has 5 inch dreadlocks.

[Sacajaweau]

Instinct tells me James just used Malvo as a cover to get into the US and doesn't now or never did care about the kid.

Malvo has a history, too and we just don't know it. I wouldn't be surprised at anything in this whole case.

With Mohammed's penchant for being a woman chaser, a con man and someone capable of sweet talking a whole bunch of cops who stopped him for a road check, nothing would surprise me.

It's one wierd group. Half the relatives are wierd (and appear to have harbored him) and Mohammed's other contacts just seem to pop up attached to the wierdest events (like the guy who loaned him his guns).

Lots to find out here and please don't let the background material disappear.

Thanks for the ping, FL! Always good stuff!!