The Christmas holidays ended in tragedy for the family of 14-year-old Uate Samisoni Kini, whose disappearance turned a season of celebration into heartbreak.
Uate was last seen on Christmas morning, smiling as he wished his aunt a Merry Christmas — a moment that now haunts his family, not for what he said, but for who he was with.
Speaking to this newspaper, his aunt, who did not wished to be named, said she noticed he was accompanied by older youths she did not recognise and had never seen before.
A day earlier, on Christmas Eve, Uate had asked his parents for permission to go to town with friends. It was the last time he walked out of the family home.
At first, his parents were not alarmed when he failed to return. They assumed he was spending the night at his grandmother’s home in Narere or staying with friends in the village, something he had done before and always returned safely.
But Christmas Day passed with no sign of Uate.
Concern quickly grew as his parents’ asked relatives, neighbours and friends if anyone had seen him.
Calls were made to family members, including his grandmother, but no one had any answer.
On Tuesday, December 30, the family went to the police station to lodge a missing person’s report. Before the process could go further, they received devastating news — Uate’s body had been found at the Tamavua-i-wai Settlement.
His 16-year-old sister, Ana Mafi, said the mother of Uate’s best friend recalled hearing his voice early on Christmas morning, pleading with someone to let him go.
Uate’s 59-year-old grandmother, Ema Ranadi, said he dreamed of becoming a mechanic after completing tertiary studies.
He loved soccer and swimming and helped with farming and household chores at home. His mother had already enrolled him at Nabua Secondary School for Year Nine, set to begin later this month.
Described as mischievous, protective and full of laughter, Uate was the “chatterbox” of the family – a cheerful boy whose absence has left an unbearable silence.
