Taxi Driver

"St Mary, Jamaica - Police suspect that a 28-year-old taxi operator Richard Marsh, whose body was found hanging from a tree in his yard at Retreat Content in St Mary early yesterday morning, was responsible for the deaths of his girlfriend and her parents Tuesday night.

"According to the police, the bodies of Marsh's 25-year-old girlfriend Sherion Simpson; her mother Kathrine Laing-Matthews, 55; and her stepfather 85-year-old Roy Matthews were found with stab wounds in their Tower Isle home nearly two hours after the discovery of the taximan's body.

"Police said Simpson and her boyfriend were having problems and believed that her mother and stepfather were caught in the middle when things escalated Tuesday night.

"It is believed the murders were committed sometime between 9:00 pm and 12 midnight Tuesday. However, the bodies were not discovered until about 7:30 yesterday morning after Marsh's body was found hanging from the tree in his yard minutes after 5:00 am.

"Investigators believed that Marsh killed the three, then drove to Retreat Content - about five miles away - where he hanged himself. His body was discovered by relatives who had gone in search for him when he did not return after telling them he was going to take a bath.

"Police said following that discovery, calls made to Marsh's girlfriend's phone went unanswered. Commanding officer for St Mary, Superintendent Dudley Scott, said the police were led to the Matthews' house where Simpson had been staying for some time.

"He said the police found the bodies of all three victims inside the house with multiple knife wounds to the upper section of their bodies."

Source: Jamaica Observer...

Death Threats Preceded Murder/Suicide

"Mandeville, Jamaica - The Jamaican police in Mandeville, Manchester are now investigating a possible case of murder suicide.

"Judith Curry, 26, was reportedly stabbed and killed by her boyfriend 39-year-old Wilbert Everton Richards.

"Alleged eyewitnesses say the two were involved in a dispute when the man, with whom the woman had ended the relationship, pulled a butcher’s knife and attacked her.

"The incident happened at the bar where the woman worked around 9 a.m. this morning in the vicinity of the Mandeville Market.

"It’s reported that the woman had received death threats prior to the incident this morning.

"Relatives say she had taken two weeks leave from work.

"However, she returned to work this morning when she was killed.

"The man reportedly stabbed himself after killing his girlfriend."

From go-jamaica.com...

"Gospel John" Hacks Two, Hangs Himself

"St Elizabeth, Jamaica - A man is dead and two women admitted to hospital in what is suspected to be an attempted murder and suicide in Breadnut Walk, St. Elizabeth.

"The dead man has been identified as John Peart, 40, otherwise called `Gospel John`.

"Hospitalised are 30-year-old Delvarine Raybe and her 14-year-old neice, Shamerica DuCarre, a student of Hampton High.

"Sometime Monday evening, Mr. Peart was involved in an argument with other persons in the community, during which he threw a stone which hit a parked car.

"He was reprimanded by Miss Raybe in whose yard he was a tenant.

"It is alleged that sometime after midnight, Mr. Peart attacked Ms. Raybe and her neice, with a machete.

"The two females were badly chopped and taken to the Black River Hospital where they were both admitted.

"Later, shortly after 5 am, residents stumbled upon Mr. Peart's body hanging from a mango tree by a piece of electrical cord."

From Radio Jamaica...

Mandeville murder-suicide?

"MANDEVILLE, JAMAICA- The Mandeville police are now investigating a possible case of murder-suicide following the discovery of two bodies miles apart this morning.

"The body of businesswoman Abma Smith, 39, was found at her house on Marshall’s Pen Close in Mandeville, Manchester, this morning.

"While the body of farmer Alvin James, 43, was discovered at his house in Bombay District in Williamsfield.

"The police say a family member found Ms. Smith’s body shortly after 7:00 a.m.

"They say she appeared to have been strangled as a piece of rope was found tied around her neck.

"Several minutes later, another police team was called to Bombay District where Mr James was found hanging from a breadfruit tree by a piece of rope.

"The police believe the incident was triggered by a domestic dispute."

From go-jamaica.com...