A pair of pants believed to be those of Maria Paul was found in a forested part of Valencia on Monday morning, as enquiries continue into her disappearance.
Police said officers of the Homicide Bureau of Investigations found the clothing and conducted a field test for blood, but none was found.
Paul, 19, remained missing up to yesterday.
She was last seen at her boyfriend’s Arima home last Wednesday.
Police investigators visited the Heights of Aripo, Valencia and other forested areas in search of clues.
Police sources said persons of interest were interviewed by detectives on Monday, however, no one was arrested in relation to Paul’s disappearance.
One investigator said while several leads were being probed, it was “highly unlikely,” that Paul was still alive.
Speaking with Guardian Media at her Plantation Road, Valencia, home on Monday, Paul’s mother Ria Hosein-Thompson said while she still held onto hope that her daughter could be alive, she only wished for closure.
“Every day I just hope that she can show up.
“With the amount of hope I feel inside of me, I feel Maria is no more, but I’m just hopeful to find her body at least, because if she were really alive and out there she would have reached out to me already.
“There were days I never called her, but she called me. Every day we must communicate,” the mother said.
Hosein-Thompson said her daughter lived with her current boyfriend at his Arima home for a year.
She said she last spoke with her daughter on Wednesday when they discussed life and family.
Hosein-Thompson said her daughter did not appear to be fearful or in danger during their conversation, which made her disappearance even more mysterious.
Paul was reported missing in October 2020 but found months later in January 2021.
When asked about the reason for her daughter’s disappearance back then, Hosein-Thompson said Paul left home because she was frustrated with the public health restrictions due to COVID-19.
“She was just running away with friends and so on,” she explained.
Hosein-Thompson said her daughter appeared to be happy with her current boyfriend despite the 20-year age gap.
Members of the Hunters Search and Rescue Team led by commander Shamsudeen Ayube, also visited Hosein-Thompson at her home for background information on her daughter’s last whereabouts.
Ayube said he and other volunteers were prepared to search different areas along the northern range to assist the police.
He added that while he hoped Paul was still alive, nothing was being ruled out.
“There is some information circulating that Maria went to someone and never returned home.
“There was also talk of bloodstains being found somewhere but we cannot verify these things until we have proper evidence,” he said.
Officers from the Arima Police Station along with the Homicide Bureau of Investigations are conducting enquiries.