Stella Maris Failed My Child

From the surveillance footage, we saw that several people tried to help six-year-old Gabriel Orellano, but he managed to slip away from each one, likely because he didn’t recognize them. When we spoke with Gabriel’s father, Vidal Orellano, he shared that the family is still looking for answers from the school. He believes the institution failed his son.

 

Voice of: Vidal Orellano, Father of Deceased

“Nothing, we nuh get no answers. They nuh tell me nothing about what happen. I still have a lot of questions. I want to know why the gate was opened, why nobody was at the gate watching the gate. Usually somebody is always at the gate. I want to know why they didn’t call the moment they notice my son gone missing, why they didn’t call, my mom, the family. We could have gone to help search and my son would have still been here. But deh wah wait until they find my son passed away and then they called me.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Is it your understanding that they knew your son was missing for a long period before?”

 

Voice of: Vidal Orellano

“Dah suh I feel, dah suh I know, because what people is saying is that he was already missing about two hours ago. Why deh never call.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Do you know how he got out of the school?”

 

Voice of: Vidal Orellano

“I am hearing he came out from the gate. The gate was wide open and he came out. That is all I know.”

 

Paul Lopez

“Do you know if that is common practice to have the gate at the school open?”

 

Voice of: Vidal Orellano

“No, the gate usually closes, because they usually don’t even let me in. At the gate the take my son, let me sign a book and the school warden take him to his class. They don’t even make I go in.”

 

Paul Lopez

“When you take your kid to a school, you entrust your kid to an institution. Do you believe the school has failed your child?”

 

Voice of: Vidal Orellano

“Very much, because he lost his life and I don’t have him no more.”