Crime
Denise Buck murder remains unsolved, her sister coming to Turks & Caicos
By Deandrea Hamilton and Dana Malcolm
Editorial Staff
#TurksandCaicos, November 18, 2022 – In a matter of just days, the sister of Denise Buck, Lesley Campbell, will be in the Turks and Caicos to honour her sister’s deep love for Grand Turk, leaving her ashes in the island Buck long called home, the island Denise wanted to be her forever resting place. It is also the island where she was brutally killed in a case which adds to the stack of unsolved murders in the TCI.
It’s almost been a year since Denise Buck was bludgeoned to death in Grand Turk by a home intruder. The body of the 61 year old, who once worked as a restaurant manager, had finally been released to loved ones, where her wish to be cremated and left in her favorite place will be fulfilled. It will be somber, but making the farewell more agonizing for those who cared for her, the gnawing fact that the Royal TCI Police remains silent on the case and clueless about the killer at large.
Denise called the police at 1:07 a.m. on January 3rd saying someone was breaking into her house. By the time police
arrived at the scene she was dead; murdered by a blow to the head and the killer had time to escape, snatch Denise’s phone and get rid of the murder weapon. Denise had significant cash in her home, but the killer did not take the money we were told.
Five months after her death Denise’s sister Lesley spoke to Magnetic Media in hopes of spurring greater activity of the homicide case, which seemed to have been sidelined by police investigators.
“Clearly, probably they’ve never retrieved the phone and they haven’t found the murder weapon. So it’s probably in the creek, isn’t it, at the bottom? That’s where I’d dump it if I was a perpetrator of such a crime and what they have done, I couldn’t tell you to be honest with you.”
In the months since Lesley said there has been no progress to speak of. Details of the case shared by Buck’s sister expose multiple flubs by the police, including mismatched statements to the family and a continued refusal even now to simply declare what time officers arrived at her home after she made the call.
Lesley says they were told the man who killed her sister had even called the police back and told the operator they could come and get Denise because he was done murdering her. Police redacted that statement in a subsequent report and deny the claims.
Lesley is convinced that people know who murdered her sister as blackmail attempts were made on her family.
“I’ve not been able to have any kind of closure or be able to put anything to rest because I am that sort of person.” She told us. “I guess I can sort of park it somewhere and let other things cloud in… but all I want, I’d like the police to do a bit of work and find the murderer because I can’t imagine on a small island like Grand Turk, that somebody doesn’t know who it is, in fact I know that somebody does know.”
Since her murder on January 3, 2022 there have been 30 more people killed in the Turks and Caicos. Our records indicate, of that number only three suspects were identified and arrested.
#TurksandCaicos, September 19, 2023 – A 26-year-old male has been sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment having pleaded guilty to Possession of Ammunition.
Michael Allan Grim Jr. of Paoli Pike Floyds, Indiana was today (September 18th) sentenced. Mr. Grim was arrested on August 01st, 2023, and subsequently charged, after one black magazine, containing 20 rounds of 9mm
ammunition was found in his luggage, whilst at the Providenciales International Airport.
During the investigation, Mr. Grim was interviewed by detectives of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force and admitted the ammunition belonged to him.
Head of Crime, Safeguarding, and Public Protection Superintendent Dean Holden in a brief statement said: “The laws of the Turks and Caicos Islands regarding the possession of firearms and ammunition is very clear. The laws are clearly defined as to the requirements needed in obtaining permission for possession of firearms and ammunition when traveling to the TCI. The laws apply to everyone and will be enforced.”
Officers of the Serious Crime Unit of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force investigated the matter.
Dana Malcolm
Staff Writer
#TurksandCaicos, September 11, 2023 – The Kew Town Community was the scene of the country’s latest recorded murder according to the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police which rushed to the community on Saturday September 2nd after yet another shooting.
It was the country’s 14th confirmed homicide and came one week after a married couple was showered with bullets resulting in the death of the husband, Jevanio Williams.
In an update on the killing, police in a brief communication said the victim was shot multiple times.
“Based on preliminary police reports, shortly after 6 p.m., residents reported hearing gunshots.
Calls were placed to the Police Control Room and a team of detectives arrived at the given location in Walter Cox Drive, where they saw a male with what appeared to be gunshot wounds about the body lying motionless on the ground.”
The male victim, who has yet to be formally identified, was pronounced deceased at the scene by medical officials.
Detectives continued investigations over the weekend, to establish the events surrounding the murder. The victim is said to have been shot in the head; assassination style.
Police, in revealing some details of the attack also launched an appeal for information in the crime.
“We are seeking the assistance of the public in identifying the deceased male victim who was dressed in a red t-shirt, dark short pants, and dark trainers.
The victim is approximately 35-40 years old, of medium build, and is believed to be of Haitian descent.
The public is being asked to contact 911, the closest police station, or call TCI Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477 and give any information on this murder or any other illegal activity anonymously.”
During last year, the RTCIPF has been working on information gathering to classify which murders are related to gang activity. Sadly, this is another murder where there is no information regarding a motive or the identity of the victim, making categorization of the event near impossible.
#TurksandCaicos, September 2, 2023 – At approximately 10:10 pm on Tuesday, 29th August 2022, the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Maritime Operations personnel onboard one of its maritime vessels contacted the 911
Police Control room and reported that they were in pursuit of what appeared to be a large wooden illegal vessel (sloop) carrying an estimated 200 people, making its way to the general area of North West Point, Providenciales.
The sloop failed to comply with instructions given by the Police and continued to make its way to shallow waters. The Police vessel was unable to get any closer in such shallow water. The migrant vessel ran aground, and its passengers began jumping into the water and ran to the shore.
It is believed the migrants landed somewhere between the Chrystal Bay and Malcolm Bay areas. Officers from the Maritime Operations immediately commenced rescue efforts in the surrounding waters, and one male and a small child were safely removed from the vessel. It is believed all the remaining migrants made it to land.
The time of the incident prohibited the responding agencies from conducting further searches however, coordinated search efforts led by the RTCIPF and supported by other agencies, resumed on Wednesday, 30th August with various resources deployed at strategic areas in an effort to locate and detain as many irregular migrants as possible.
This remains an ongoing multi-agency operation.
Thus far, a number of illegal migrants, including children have been located and detained.
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