A Dominican police officer has been charged with the murder of 16-year-old Jerbiah Paul, bringing a devastating end to a disappearance that gripped the nation for nearly three weeks.

The accused, Jean-Luc Rudy Langlais, appeared before the court this morning and was remanded to prison following the discovery of the teenager’s decomposed body in Capuchin on Wednesday.

Jerbiah, who was from the Portsmouth area, had been missing since July 24. Her disappearance triggered several searches as relatives, law enforcement officers and concerned residents desperately hoped she would be found alive.

During an emotional press conference on Thursday, Acting Chief of Police Lincoln Corbette confirmed that the man charged with Jerbiah’s murder was a serving member of the Commonwealth of Dominica Police Force.

“One of our very own did this,” Corbette declared.

He said the accused officer was arrested during the investigation and subsequently charged based on the evidence gathered by investigators.

Corbette made it clear that the police force would not protect any member suspected of involvement in murder, disappearance or other serious criminal conduct.

“Even if it is one of us, we will spare no effort. No stone will be left unturned to ensure we get to the bottom of the matter,” he said.

National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore became visibly emotional during the press conference as officials addressed the death of the teenager and its impact on her family and the wider Dominican society.

The investigation received support from several international and regional partners, including the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, the US Embassy and the Regional Security System. Local telecommunications companies also reportedly assisted investigators.

Police had earlier disclosed that the accused officer was believed to have been the last person with Jerbiah around the time she disappeared. Reports also suggested that the teenager and the officer knew each other; however, the precise nature of their relationship has not been officially detailed.

Jerbiah’s remains were recovered from a precipice in Capuchin on Wednesday, weeks after her family reported her missing. The discovery shattered hopes across Dominica that the teenager would be returned safely to her loved ones.

The murder charge marks a major development in the investigation, but the authorities have indicated that their work is continuing.

Corbette warned that anyone found to have participated in the teenager’s murder, disappearance or any attempt to obstruct the investigation would face the full force of the law.