Reward offered for info on missing child

The mother allegedly told Howell the tactics used by the police to extract information from her, forcing her to confess to something she did not do. "She wanted to get herself out of that situation and she thought the only way she could do that was to tell them what she thought they wanted to hear."

October 19, 2015

Marinette Potgieter 2 minutes read

The accused mother is believed to be innocent.

MBOMBELA – A man believes that the mother accused of strangling her 14-month-old son and dumping his body in a dam near her house, is innocent and was forced to confess to a crime that she did not commit.

Mr Alan Howell is offering a reward of R5 000 for any information that can lead to the recovery of “Squeegy”, as the child is known. Howell said he has been the child’s guardian since his birth in 2014. “He even took my last name and called me daddy.”

Read: Two mothers accused of killing their children

He is a landowner in the area where Squeegy lived with his mother. He said the child used to visit him on a daily basis and often accompanied him to town.

David Quentin "Squeegy" Howell went missing on September 28. — David Quentin “Squeegy” Howell went missing on September 28.

“He was a very active child and was often spotted strolling out of the house. I believe he might have been stolen.” According to Howell, the mother is in a state of anguish and will also do anything to have her child returned.

“The mother calls me every other day and she is absolutely distraught,” he told Lowvelder. “Neither I nor anyone who knows the family knows how close Squeegy and his mother were. No one believes she is capable of murdering him.”

Mr Alan Howell's dog, Julia, who was also very fond of Squeegy. — Mr Alan Howell’s dog, Julia, who was also very fond of Squeegy.

The mother allegedly told Howell the tactics used by the police to extract information from her, forcing her to confess to something she did not do. “She wanted to get herself out of that situation and she thought the only way she could do that was to tell them what she thought they wanted to hear.” She took police to the dam where she and another suspect allegedly dumped the body. However, after hours of searching the dam, as well as another two in the area, divers failed to retrieve the body. This made police believe she was not telling the truth.

“It was stupid of her to lie, but I understand how she could react that way in that situation,” Howell added. He further said that the child’s father is a Mozambican national who was in South Africa at the time Squeegy went missing. However, due to his alibi, he was released from police custody and the mother became the prime suspect. She was kept in police custody for questioning but was released due to a lack of evidence against her.

The accused mother is said to have been forced into a confession by police.

Capt Dawie Pretorius, spokesman for Mbombela SAPS, said they couldn’t comment on what the mother had said. “All we can say is that we are still investigating a missing persons case.”

Those with any information which could lead to the recovery of Squeegy can contact Howell on 072-442-4157. “He is like my own child and I will do anything to get him back. If he has been killed, I want closure and for the person who did it – whoever that may be – to be behind bars.”