The suspect in the summertime murder of still-missing Kerran Baker has been released from police bail, following RCIPS briefings in Kingston with the Jamaican government and the missing woman’s family.

Arrested on 17 November, the unnamed man was freed from bail on Thursday, police said yesterday, because of “insufficient evidence to proceed to a charge”.

RCIPS Detective Superintendent Marlon Bodden told iNews Cayman yesterday the move was routine in such cases, but that police continued to watch the suspect.

“Absolutely, we continue to keep an eye on him. The investigation is continuing,” Mr Bodden said. “This is not the first time for something like this. We sent the investigative file to the prosecutor’s office”, which, he said, had concluded the evidence was not sufficiently compelling to warrant an arrest.

Meanwhile Ms Baker’s Kingston-based family said Monday briefings by visiting RCIPS officers had proved largely fruitless, leaving “everybody still feeling down”, according to stepfather Wilmot Anthony.

“They came on Monday, and, no, we don’t know why they released him [the suspect]. It’s painful and we don’t really know anything more, don’t really have anything to make us feel better. Everybody is still feeling down, still feeling restless,” he said.

Ms Baker, 25, a George Town nursing assistant, vanished from her Bodden Town home on 30 July last year immediately following a 7pm visit to the Foster’s Food Fair near the airport.

Friends reported her absence the next morning, while a subsequent police search of her Arrow Drive apartment turned up a handbag and groceries in the kitchen, indicating a sudden departure.

On 1 August, her white Honda Civic was found near Pedro Castle, but both a public and police search of the area, including nearby waters, turned up no more than a clutch of papers

After probing her cell phone and other contacts, police in mid-November arrested a 35-year-old man in connection with the disappearance, subsequently reclassified as a murder. The suspect was released on police bail while the investigation continued.

Yesterday’s police statement said RCIPS officers this week had “also met with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Jamaica Constabulary Force”.

A spokesman at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday that the RCIPS visit “was only a debriefing of the situation,” while the George Town consulate said police told officials “they were putting out a release and that the investigation was still very active. They wanted to bring the family and others up to date.

“They were really just providing information and kindly kept our office informed of developments. They wanted to be very thorough and extended an invitation to those individuals they want to keep ‘in the loop’ about the case,” a spokesman said.

Mr Bodden said yesterday that police “spoke to the parents and siblings, and in any matter involving a foreign national, it’s a protocol. We have to keep them updated.”

While Ms Baker’s mother, Sandra Anthony, declined to comment, younger sister Toney-Ann said the situation remained difficult for the family.

“Basically, they said there was no further update. There was nothing new,” she said.

“It’s really hard on everyone, but you really have to have faith. It’s tough on mom,” Ms Anthony said. “She keeps hanging on in there. I was just saying to my older sister that it was difficult because I used to look up to her [Kerran], but it’s almost like it’s nothing now,” she said, nearly eight months since her disappearance.

“Kerran’s family have been made aware of the development and remain extremely supportive of the RCIPS,” yesterdays RCIPS statement said, “and the determination of the enquiry team to bring this case to a successful conclusion.