Firestone —Police authorities in Margibi County have launched a full-scale investigation following the discovery of suspected human skeletal remains in Division-15, Firestone, Margibi County.
By Yawah Y. Jaivey, [email protected]
The case is currently being probed by officers of the Liberian National Police (LNP) assigned to the Roberts International Airport Police Station in Lower Margibi County.
According to reports, on Friday, February 20, 2026, at approximately 10:29 a.m., agent Alex Borbor of Firestone Plant Protection Department (PPD) alerted the Crime Services Division (CSD) that skeletal remains had been discovered in the area.
Based on the information received, detective Arthur D. Johnson of the Liberia National Police, accompanied by officers of Firestone’s PPD officers proceeded to the scene to verify the report.
According to a police source, upon arrival, officers observed scattered bones believed to be human remains contained in a black plastic bag.
Items, including clothing found at the scene, included blue short trousers, a blue top, a pink undergarment, waist beads, and a multi-colored lapper. Police noted that a large crowd had gathered before their arrival, reportedly contaminating the scene.
Police sources explained that family members present at the location —John Joseph, 61, and Mamie Kollie, 40, both residents of Long Camp, Division-16 — along with their daughter, Garmah Kollie, identified the clothing as belonging to their missing daughter and sister, Geraldine Joseph, who reportedly went missing in October 2025.
A fifteen-member coroner’s jury was subsequently constituted to determine whether the remains were human. The jury unanimously concluded that the bones were indeed human skeletal remains.
According to Geraldine’s father, John Joseph, he returned home from work in October 2025 and asked about his daughter’s whereabouts. His 13-year-old son, Hamson Joseph, informed him that Geraldine had gone to church choir practice.
Joseph said three days later, he received information that she had allegedly been seen in Monrovia selling goods.
He then dispatched Garmah Kollie and Richard Joseph to verify the claim, but they later returned, confirming that she was not in Monrovia.
Also speaking, the victim’s mother, Mamie Kollie, recounted that her daughter had told her she was going to kickball practice in Mamdi Town, Division-16, Firestone, but never returned home.
She further alleged that a man identified as Prince Copper informed her that while he and friends were drinking, Geraldine approached him and he gave her LD$200 for transportation back to Long Camp. Despite this, Geraldine did not return home.
However, efforts by the family to trace her whereabouts through friends, including individuals identified as Everline and Fatu, reportedly yielded no results.
According to the Mamie Kollie, Fatu claimed Geraldine had mentioned attending her brother’s graduation program, but she was never seen thereafter.
According to reports, on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, while returning from selling goods, Mamie Kollie observed several boys gathered around an object in a nearby swamp.
Upon closer inspection, she discovered skeletal remains and recognized the lapper found near the remains as belonging to her daughter.
She immediately informed her daughter, Garmah Kollie, and the matter was subsequently reported to the town chief.
According to reports, police authorities disclosed that individuals named by the victim’s mother have yet to be located for questioning. Due to heightened tension surrounding the discovery, investigators were unable to immediately escort the parents for further interviews.
Authorities have confirmed that investigators will revisit the scene for further evidence collection and to invite persons of interest for questioning.
