radhicasookraj@guardian.co.tt
Mother of three Natalie Pollonais has disappeared without a trace and her family is now worried that she may have been kidnapped.
Up to last night, police were searching several parts of the country in a bid to find her. Initial reports indicate that Pollonais, 49, of Palmiste, San Fernando, went missing after leaving the Central Athletics gym at the C3 mall in Corinth, South Trinidad yesterday morning. Her white BMW 5308 hybrid vehicle, one of two in T&T, was also reported missing by her husband Jason Pollonais.
Police said Natalie’s phone was connected to her car. Traces on the phone showed it was in St Augustine before the signal was lost.
There were no calls for ransom to the family up to last night but police said they were not ruling out the possibility that Pollonais could have been abducted.
In an interview yesterday, her daughter Ashley broke down in tears as she spoke of her mother’s mysterious disappearance.
Ashley said Natalie left home to go to the gym yesterday morning, following which she was expected to visit a friend in Palmiste.
“She called her friend from the car after she left the gym and said she would be by her in 20 minutes. People saw her at the gym. Her phone connects to the car so we are sure she made it to the car. When she did not arrive at the friend’s home we began calling her but she was not answering anybody’s calls,” Ashley said.
She explained that Natalie wanted to get some errands done so she told her housekeeper that she was coming home early yesterday.
“When she did not show up or answer calls by 3 pm, we all got very worried and my dad said something was definitely wrong,” Ashley said, sobbing.
Saying her mother was always on the phone, Ashley said, “She would call us all through the day. She was always in touch. It is not like her to not call or answer. We are very worried about her.”
Contacted yesterday, brother-in-law Scott Pollonais said Natalie was not employed. Saying the family was baffled by the disappearance, Scott said, “All we want is for her to come back home.”
Police Commissioner Gary Griffith declined to comment on the disappearance yesterday.
Social media circulated Pollonais’ photo widely yesterday. On Facebook, many expressed the hope that she would be found safe and sound. Anyone with information on her whereabouts can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-TIPS.