Jayden-Lee Meek murder: How blood and school books led to his mother's arrest
Jayden-Lee Meek, 11, was returning home from school when he disappeared from inside his apartment complex.
Image: Supplied
While residents were searching for 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek, who went missing in May, he was being struck with a blunt object, which would result in his death, allegedly at the hands of his mother.
Jayden-Lee went missing on May 13, just after 4 pm. His scholar transport dropped him at the Fleurhof apartment complex.
The young boy attended the Royal College in Florida.
He was never seen again. At the time of his disappearance, his mother claimed she had been working from home and got worried when he did not return home.
Tiffany Nicole Dunn Meek, 31, appeared in the Roodepoort Magistrate’s Court on Monday.
She faces charges of murder, crimen injuria, attempting to defeat or obstruct the course of justice, and defeating or obstructing the administration of justice.
According to a charge sheet presented to the court, the State is set to prove that Meek struck her son with a blunt object. The object is yet to be identified.
It has been revealed that blood was found on Jayden-Lee’s bed, his school clothes and bag were also found in the apartment, as well as his schoolbooks, which had blood on them.
Evidence analysed by forensic experts reveals Jayden-Lee was killed in his home.
The court papers have revealed that 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek, died after being hit with an "unknown" hard object to the head allegedly by his mother, Tiffany Nicole Dunn Meek.
Image: Timothy Bernard/ Independent Newspapers
His body was only found the following morning near the house on the staircase.
At the time, his body was clean, warm, and several abrasions were visible.
In attendance at court, Deputy Police Minister, Shela Polly Boshiel,o expressed her shock at the matter.
“Unfortunately, Jayden was killed and found in the very space where he should have been safe and secure ...his residential complex,” Boshielo said.
She stated the investigating team was hard at work and following up on all leads to build an airtight case for the State.
Boshielo said this case will be monitored closely and did not rule out the possibility of more arrests being made as the investigation continues to unfold.
At this stage, the motive for Jayden-Lee’s murder is unknown.
Meek, who was shedding tears in the dock before the court stated she would be bringing her own private attorney on the record.
She is expected back in the dock on Friday, July 18, for bail information and her attorney to come on record.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
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