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Turks & Caicos makes New York nightly news for a murder investigation going nowhere; Club Med named in $10M Lawsuit

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By Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

 

#TurksandCaicos, June 6, 2022 – The Family of Marie Kuhnla believes a Coroner’s Inquest has been called to change the record on the way the Long Island attorney died; the Medical Examiner in 2018 listed the cause of death as manual strangulation.  If however that is altered to accidental, then, says the friend of Kuhnla who was on that ill-fated trip nearly four years ago, it would mean everyone who is culpable gets off and gets away with the brutal killing of Marie.

These loved ones have vowed they will not let that happen.

It is yet another murder investigation by the Royal TCI Police which is being publically slammed for the sheer insensitivity of how the case is being managed.  From a lack of communication, to accusations that the murderer was allowed to walk away and leave the country without being charged and that the family’s devastation at the shocking news was frustrated by extreme delays and stone walling by the local police department.

Her son and the NBC New York news team travelled to the Turks and Caicos to attend the inquest in person and have been reporting on the matter.  Viewers are repeatedly hearing the heartbreaking details and the suspect handling of the murder investigation.

Kuhnla’s son says he thinks everyone is unconcerned about the family and only concerned about the tourism reputation of the Turks and Caicos.

Over years and even in recent weeks, the Royal TCI Police has suffered scathing reviews coming from devastated loved ones who publically criticize the Force for a nonchalant approach to their heartbreaking losses.  While the cases are all different, happening on different islands, to different people, at different times – the way police and tactics are described is unflattering, nearly identical in each case.

The inquest, says the NBC report, comes in the middle of a $10 Million dollar wrongful death lawsuit against Club Med, allegedly for colluding with others to as the family has said, cover up the facts of the crime.  Where Kuhnla’s body was found and how she died and naturally, who killed her have all been questioned.

A Long Island man, who was a guest at the time of the killing, who was also an ex-employee at Club Med was reported for sexual harassment by one of Kuhnla’s friends, who was on that trip.  Helma Hermans, also an attorney, tells the news team, she believes Yucallo had something to do with the brutal murder where Kuhnla was beaten and then strangled.  Fractured rib, dirt in her lungs, abrasions to the neck, were all outlined in various reports from authorities.

It took the family three years and a private investigator to see those reports.  It took them two years to get Marie Kuhnla’s body; it was horribly decomposed.  It devastated her husband.

Still no arrest and the suspect, Frank Yucallo was interviewed, named as a person of interest but eventually all charges were dropped.  Someone paid his bail and he is now residing back in NY, says the media report.  The loved ones of Kuhnla worry that the way she died could be changed as a result of the inquest.

Helma Herman says “the world is watching.  The world is watching.  If they’re afraid of bad publicity for their island it can’t get much worse than this.”

Crime

North Caicos man admits Guilt to Cocaine and Marijuana

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Wilkie Arthur 

Freelance Court Correspondent

Monday, March 25th, 2024, in the Magistrate’s Court before Her Honor the Acting Resident Magistrate Ms. Patricia Arana, from the Grand Turk Magistrate Court via video link, the following matters were called:

North Caicos man #1 DYRON FULFORD pleaded guilty to two of three charges in relation to the cocaine and marijuana he was found with at Bellefield Landing in Kew, North Caicos on Valentine’s Day of 2024.

After the Crown had laid out the facts surrounding the case to the learned Resident Magistrate, and when he was asked if he had anything to say before sentencing, he said “I would like if you can probation me or give me reasonable fine and I’m saying sorry for getting into this trouble.”

The cocaine was eight grams with a street value of $80.00. The weed was 4,689 grams with a street value of $4,680.00. 

One final charge was read to the accused Fulford, and that is of intent to supply the large quantity of cannabis taken from him by police Superintendent Dean Holden in an undercover sting operation on the Island of North Caicos. 

The Crown may withdraw the intent to distribute the weed charge or proceed with a trial on that count alone following the sentencing of Fulford.

His sentencing for the guilty pleas is adjourned to next month.

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Crime

Avalanche of Armed Robberies, Residents on Edge

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Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

Since the start of 2024, a rolling avalanche of robberies in the country has put residents on edge. Now the unknown robbers are staking out people’s homes following them home, which locals say is adding to the fear felt by law-abiding citizens.

A serious spike in robbery reports shared by the police was observed in March. Since the 8th of the month, police have confirmed back-to-back robberies, often with a new victim being hit several nights in a row.

On March 22nd police revealed three back-to-back attacks by armed men; one in the Lower Bight on March 21 around 9 p.m., where a man was robbed of his car and other valuables. Two more were recorded on March 22 at 1:56 and 3:28 a.m. respectively; the first in Kew Town where a man was followed home and robbed; and the second where a man was robbed at his home, both committed by four armed men. 

On March 15 police again revealed that a man was robbed by two males in Kew Town after midnight and a woman robbed by four men less than two hours later. 

On March 14 three armed men robbed a Crockpot kitchen on Leeward Highway. The day before that two armed men robbed Gabriel’s restaurant located along Airport Road around 9:38 pm.

On March 12 police confirmed the 10 a.m. robbery of a woman at a gaming lounge; that incident followed the March 11 holdup on another woman at gunpoint. Before both of those was a robbery at 2:45 a.m. the Friday prior when a man was accosted near Dock Yard by five armed men

“Sounds like a SAS unit needs a vacation” said one resident on the most recent robbery post shared by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police, highlighting the frequency of the reports.

With the increasing random hits, residents are antsy and some want more personal protective measures. 

Head of Crime, Safeguarding and Public Protection Superintendent Dean Holden has advised, “In light of recent incidents in Providenciales, I wish to emphasize the importance of staying aware of your surroundings and taking the necessary precautions to ensure personal safety. 

“If you believe you are being followed, please do not panic. Remain calm and drive to a well-lit, populated area or the nearest police station. It’s crucial to avoid stopping in isolated or poorly lit areas or driving home. 

“Immediately dial 911 and, if possible, try to obtain a description of the vehicle following you and its license plate number. Above all, prioritise personal safety. I want to assure the public that the RTCIPF is actively monitoring the situation and remains committed to ensuring all citizens’ safety and security.” 

Residents are asking, “So when are you guys going to legalize tasers? Pepper spray for public use?” One asked. A different resident took it even further “Why don’t they give law-abiding citizens the right to bear arms?” He questioned. 

Others wanted more proactive measures like the removal of vegetation in which criminals are known to hide in wait for their victims.

At least one suspect has been held regarding stolen property, Demetrie Williams, 32, of South Caicos. He was remanded in custody following a court appearance on March 15 two days after he was allegedly caught handling stolen goods. 

So far police have not managed to sniff out the armed thieves though it was said, the RTCIPF are actively investigating three armed robberies.

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Crime

American Tourist Beaten in Turks and Caicos, suspect out on bail

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Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer 

#TurksandCaicos, March 24, 2024 – A tourist woman was left with severe bruises and possible visual impairment and hearing loss, after being beaten by a man, while on a birthday trip in the Turks and Caicos. 

The reason behind her assault is unknown, and it’s now public concern among Turks and Caicos residents as well as tourists, that there are people out there willing to physically abuse someone, especially to this degree. 

The victim, Suyapa Ramos from New Jersey, who describes fighting for her life, was interviewed on abc7NY and she detailed the events leading up to her assault.

She expressed she was at a bar the last night of her trip and after hours, ready to go back to her hotel, was trying to find a taxi with little luck.

“I believe after about 10, they (taxis) don’t run, and that was something that I found out the hard way.”

Ramos continued, highlighting that she met someone who said he was a taxi driver and took his word for it.  In fact, people at the bar seemingly knew the guy by the name of Davidson Martin, which to her was even more reason to trust she would be safe.

On their way to the hotel, she claimed he suddenly attacked her in the car, the scariest thing she’d ever had to encounter, she said. 

While Martin mercilessly beat Ramos, he reportedly made growling sounds, she explained in her interview.  And, contrasting to public opinion, Ramos says he didn’t make any sexual advances.

Fortunately Ramos, 48 years old, was able to escape and Martin, 29 years old, was arrested two days later. 

A police release informs that Ramos arrived at a health facility on Sunday March 10 and on March 13th, Martin was arrested by Safeguarding and Public Protection officers under sections 10 of the Offenses Against the Person Ordinance.

The release says he appeared before a Magistrate on March 15th, 2024, and charged with one count of Inflicting Grievous Bodily Harm. 

While officials have not commented publicly on the incident, the TCI public wants it to be known that the attacker was not a taxi driver. The man arrested, charged and released is an illegal jitney operator.

Illegal jitney drivers are not licensed and their drivers are unregistered and therefore unknown to the public service drivers’ regulator.

Warnings are currently in effect about use of these illegal modes of transport, despite their enormous popularity and convenience, especially to people who need to get around at night.

For the Turks and Caicos, a sought after tourist destination in the Caribbean, this is another stain on its reputation as the past two years has seen an increase in crime rate per capita, from low numbers, to numbers that now rival those of some of the most violent places in the world. 

Tourists are being attacked in their villas and just recently, a family was held at gunpoint, the father robbed of over $20,000 thousand dollars worth of cash and jewelry. 

Despite these unfortunate developments, the Turks and Caicos is seeing record breaking numbers in arrivals, up nearly 13 percent, for the first two months of 2024, according to a report by the Ministry of Tourism, released this week. 

 

UPDATED

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