THE mother of a sailor shot dead at the US naval base in Bahrain yesterday blasted the wall of silence surrounding her daughter's death.
Jovie Paulino revealed her heartache at being forced to bury her child without a proper explanation of how she died.
Anamarie Sannicolas Camacho, 20, and her colleague Genesia Mattril Gresham, 19, were shot dead at the Naval Support Activity Base, Juffair, at around 5am on October 22.
Their alleged killer, fellow serviceman Clarence Jackson, 20, is still clinging to life after apparently shooting himself in the head immediately after the murders.
He is now at the National Naval Medical Centre in Bethesda, Maryland, US, after being transferred to the US from a specialist hospital in Germany.
There has been no change in his condition and he has not regained consciousness.
"I have asked questions, but the only response (from navy officials) is 'we do not know'," Ms Paulino told the GDN from her home in Tinian, in the Northern Marinas islands, US.
"How much longer will it be before that changes?"
Ms Paulino said her daughter's body is due to return home next week and as soon as she is laid to rest on November 5, she plans to pursue the navy more vigorously for answers.
She says her daughter had no part in any relationship between Ms Gresham and Mr Jackson and on the day of her death she was merely caught in the wrong place.
"She did not have anything to do with their relationship and she was just in the wrong place," she said.
"I was assured that she had no involvement, except that she was her (Genesia's) roommate."
Ms Paulino, who served in the US Air Force for six years, is also angry at the way the navy have handled the shooting.
"I had entrusted my daughter to the navy when she joined and this is what has happened, I just don't understand," she said. "I was in the military and right now I feel so angry and disappointed. She put her life on the line for our freedom and the only thing they should do (in return) is protect her."
Her comments echo that of Ms Gresham's mother Anita, who earlier blamed officials for leaving her daughter exposed to danger from a man she said turned nasty when she tried to cool their "casual" relationship.
Ms Gresham revealed Jackson had a restraining order against him and had been on suicide watch, after he allegedly attacked Miss Gresham less than four months ago.
She was also angry that Jackson was allowed to carry a gun after his alleged attack on her daughter and that officials were not telling her what happened in the run-up to the killings.
But despite her own anger, Ms Paulino says she is trying hard to find forgiveness in her heart.
"Even with the anger and confusion and the mix of emotions there is nothing I can do to bring my daughter back," she said.
"We are trying to cope with what happened and everyone has their own way of dealing with the loss of my daughter.
"I love my daughter and I am going to miss her but her memories will always be with me.
"I do not regret any of the moments I shared with her, we always told each other before we left the phone 'I love you'."
Tributes have also been pouring in for Ms Gresham on a US website that allows condolence messages for people who died.
"God put an Angel here on earth and she touched so many lives," says one signed from Marcene Cooper. "Please remember the good times, they will surely get you through.
"Although words cannot express our deepest sympathy, please know our thoughts and prayers are with you during your loss."
Another tribute came from mother Melissa Maye, who has a 19-year-old daughter in the navy.
"When I heard of Genesia's passing I shed tears for your family and my heart ached," she said.
"I can't believe you are gone but the memories we shared will always be in my heart," said another message from Christy.
"I love you and miss you my beautiful and special cousin."
geoff@gdn.com.bh
