Abbie Smith’s deported dad desperate to attend funeral — ‘I don’t know what else to do’

TRENTON — Kenroy Smith, the father of slain 11-year-old Abbiegail "Abbie" Smith, said his application to travel from his home in Jamaica for her funeral on Monday has been denied.

"We were denied the visa and I don't know what else to do. I am here at the embassy right now," Smith told New Jersey 101.5. "I was denied my visa to see my daughter. They said I have immigration problems," Smith said through tears.

Kenroy Smith posted a copy of the letter on his Facebook page but it is too blurry to read.

He said he did not know if there is an appeal process, but made a plea to President Donald Trump to intervene.

"I am asking Mr. Trump please to step in. I just want to see my daughter for the last time. The last time I saw my daughter was 2013. Oh my God, could you please?"

"All I want to do is go for seven days to see my daughter and come back to Jamaica," Kenroy Smith said

A visa application for his daughter Kenisha, who also lives in Jamaica, was rejected as well.

Abbie’s body was found wrapped in a blanket on a rear roof of the Hancock Avenue apartment building where she lived with her mother last Friday. Her mother had reported her missing 12 hours earlier on July 12.

Andreas Erazo, 18, who lived upstairs from Abbie, was arrested the next day and charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors say he stabbed Abbie in the neck with a knife. Authorities have not said whether they know of a motive.

Kenroy Smith was deported from the United States in 2001 on a drug charge his daughter Latisha, who lives outside Washington, called "minor."

Abbie moved to the United States from Jamaica with her family in 2007.

Latisha Smith — another daughter of Kenroy Smith who loves outside Washington — said Sen. Robert Menendez's office was involved with trying to help her father. Menendez's office referred a question to the family's attorney.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at dan.alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

More from New Jersey 101.5: