Sixth Murder of the year make 2008 the most violent in Grand Cayman

Police investigators collecting evidence and clues on Birch Tree Hill Road in the murder case of 23-year-old Mark Anthony Jefferson. Photo by Trent Jacobs

With the shooting death of a 23-year-old man in West Bay on Friday, 11 July, the Cayman Islands is experiencing its highest rate of homicides for the decade.

In comparison, there were six killings for all of 2004 and three last year. The sixth murder victim of this year, Mark Anthony Jefferson, was shot dead on Birch Tree Hill Road around midnight near local hangout, Kelly’s Bar; a few hours later there were shots fired near Funky Tangs on Shedden Road, with no injuries reported.

During the West Bay shooting, another man, 20, was shot in the arm for which he required surgery, though his wounds were not life threatening, according to police. The initial police investigation says that bystanders scattered upon numerous shots being fired after which Mr Jefferson collapsed and died in the street.

Mr Jefferson is the same man who was arrested for the December hit-and-run death of 55-year-old Quindel Ames, who was leaving a Health Services Authority Christmas party at Boatswain’s Beach in West Bay.

On Monday, 14 July, several officers, donning rubber gloves and equipped with metal detectors, were still combing through residents’ front yards and alleyways looking for clues that might lead to an arrest.

Police say they have already collected several spent shells but have yet to find the murder weapon.
Cayman Net News spoke with an eyewitness, who requested anonymity, who said the victim fell dead just feet in front of him. According to the witness, several people were hanging out at a laundromat by Kelly’s Bar, an area he alleges is a hangout for drug dealers, when the shooting began.

The police say that a 19-year-old is currently assisting authorities with their investigation but they are still urging anyone with any information they think might help to contact the West Bay Police station on 949-3999 or Crime Stoppers on 1-800-TIPS (8477).

Cayman's Second Murder Within Four Days

May 20, 2008

"Paradise" is the island's moniker. Not so anymore. A Canadian Man was found murdered Tuesday, and a Caymanian man found dead on Saturday. Bringing the total to 5 homicides in Cayman this year.

Starting with the most recent murder: An autopsy has confirmed that a former Saskatchewan man found dead in his seaside rental home in the Cayman Islands was the victim of murder. The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service said Thursday that Martin Joseph Gareau, 47, suffered multiple injuries to his head and body caused by sharp and blunt objects.

"The post-mortem shows that Mr. Gareau suffered very serious injuries, which could only be caused by another person or persons," said Det. Insp. Kim Evans. Gareau, a former resident of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan (Canada) who had been living in the Cayman Islands for the last four years, was last heard from in the city of Bodden Town on Sunday. His body was discovered by a co-worker Tuesday after he failed to show up for his construction job. Police said there was no sign of forced entry at Gareau's residence and no one has been charged in his death.

On Saturday, the body of 20yr old Brian Adrian Rankine (also known as Rankine-Carter) of West Bay. Rankine-Carter’s body was found in a car parked on McField Lane, George Town, shortly after midnight. He was believed to be homeless at the time of his murder according to family members, and the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service has contacted his mother who lives in the United Kingdom.

Arrangements are also being made for her return to the Cayman Islands and a pathologist is being flown in from Miami to complete a post mortem. Two men remain in custody (a Jamaican and Nicaraguan) on suspicion of murder in connection with Rankine-Carter’s death and a vehicle seized during the course of the investigation is undergoing a forensic examination, as is other evidence obtained from the two suspects.

UPDATE:

Suspect arrested in Cayman Islands in stabbing death of former Prince Albert man

A 28 year old man was arrested Thursday afternoon on the Cayman Islands in the beating and stabbing death of Martin Gareau, 47.

Gareau had been working construction on the islands for the past four years, but he was raised on a farm about six kilometres west of Prince Albert.

His body was found May 20 in his rented home in Bodden Town by co-workers after he didn't show up for work at Cayman Islands-based manufacturer CI Precast.

An autopsy has shown the 47-year-old had multiple injuries caused by both sharp and blunt objects.