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Denise Buck Murder in Grand Turk making UK News; TCI Police finally ready to offer REWARD 

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By Deandrea Hamilton

Editor

 

#TurksandCaicos, December 12, 2022 – On January 3, 2023, it will be one year since the brutal killing of Denise Buck, a 61 year old long time resident of Grand Turk, originally from the UK.  And on that one year anniversary, the Royal TCI Police plans to launch an appeal for information in the case with reward money attached, says a report published in the UK Guardian.

The Family of Buck has been calling for a reward to be offered since the horrendous crime was committed.

While the sister of Denise, Lesley Campbell, is ever hopeful the murderer will be caught, she expressed disappointment that basic investigative techniques were not employed increasing the likelihood the case would go cold.

In yet another international report exposing the frustrating investigative style of the TCI Police, the UK Guardian is now reporting on the murder, the progress of the investigation and who is responsible for policing and national security in the country.

Lesley has spoken to Magnetic Media extensively about her distress in the case, which has moved barely at all in terms of unearthing what happened and who beat her sister to death.  She is now speaking to the UK Guardian about how the system failed her when she needed it most.

A roller-coaster relationship with the Police and its appointed Family Liaison Officers (FLO); offhandedness by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and local companies and officials who treated her more like a nuisance than a relative in mourning, she had explained.

Rubbed raw with fresh emotions after burying the ashes of her sister in Grand Turk, Lesley exposes how the 911 call was not recorded and how the police, on the tiny island took far too long to arrive at the scene.  When they did, Denise was already deceased – found in the bedroom of her small home on the Ridge in Grand Turk.

Little did islanders know at the time of Buck’s vicious killing, they were in for the most murderous year on record for the Turks and Caicos.  One so vile, that it has involved at least five nations in the crime fighting effort; saw an American civil rights leader murdered in the cross-fire of gang-fuelled violence; led to the interception of a shipment of guns bound for TCI from the United States and resulted in the slaughter of nearly an entire family, two babies included.

A question in the UK House of Commons and a Report laid in parliament have now irrefutably reiterated what islanders already knew, that the United Kingdom is “ultimately responsible for the good governance, safety and defence of the territories”.

The report was published on December 9, 2022 and came following questions about who was looking into the surging crime in the tiny archipelago, one of the British overseas territories in the Caribbean.

The report informs the readers that the governor, Nigel Dakin, assured successive government administrations willingly support policing needs. In fact, nine per cent of the national budget is devoted to policing and national security; raising year on year for over a decade.

Lesley Campbell was incensed by the lackluster progress despite the funding for resources.  She fingered not only the Governor and the Commissioner of Police for being insufficiently responsive and attentive to the case, but the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office of the United Kingdom.

From the Guardian, this: Anne-Marie Trevelyan, minister of state in the FCDO, said: “The UK is committed to the security of the TCI and is supporting their response to the recent increase in serious crime.”

Governor Dakin is reported in the article admitting that while he is ultimately responsible for national security, it is the Royal TCI Police which has to indicate it requires intervention.

“… told the Guardian that as governor he could make a request for UK assistance only on recommendation of the police commissioner and in emergencies.”

But the Governor, as pointed out in the Report has the power, constitutionally over defence, internal security and the police among other areas.

Campbell remains stumped by the fact that no one has been questioned for her sister’s murder some 11 months ago.  She believes that an island as small as Grand Turk and in a population so close-knit, more decisive action at the onset would have turned up leads in the murder probe.

The Guardian reports that it asked Trevor Botting, TCI Police Commissioner about the investigation.  It is when the publication (and readers) learned that on the anniversary of Buck’s murder, there is a plan to make a fresh appeal with reward money dangled as a lure for credible information in the open case.

It is also when the common refrain by Commissioner Botting, when asked about progress on any investigation was recited: “This matter remains an active and live investigation so I cannot comment in any detail regarding the investigation.”

It is not believe Denise Buck was killed in a robbery gone bad; over $4,000 in a severance pay from her last job was found untouched in the house.  The motive for the murder is also a mystery, which eats away at her deeply distressed loved ones.

The last appeal for information in the murder of Denise Buck was made on January 21 in a media briefing.  There is no information – including any appeal for information in the case of the murder of Denise Buck posted on the, highly trafficked, Police Facebook page.

Caribbean News

Bermuda Shaken by Targeted Murder as Crime Returns After a Decade of Calm

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Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

 

Bermuda is reeling after the brazen murder of 37-year-old Janae Minors, a mother of two, who was gunned down in her own beauty supply store on Court Street, Pembroke. The attack, which police describe as “targeted,” has rattled the island, not only for its brutality but for what it says about the state of law and order in a country that less than a decade ago was celebrating a dramatic fall in violent crime.

The Attack on Court Street

According to police, at approximately 4:45 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16, a lone gunman pulled up on a stolen black motorcycle, walked into the Beauty Monster shop Minors owned, and shot her multiple times. Despite the rapid response of emergency services, she succumbed to her injuries shortly after being transported to hospital.

Detectives say the killer was thin, tall, dressed in dark clothing with a full-face helmet, and wearing bright gloves. CCTV shows him fleeing north on Court Street, down Tills Hill toward TCD, before turning onto Marsh Folly Road. Investigators are pursuing all leads, with a focus on recovering evidence from nearby cameras and eyewitness accounts.

Police Commissioner Darrin Simons confirmed the attack bore the hallmarks of gang-related violence, a chilling indicator that Bermuda’s gang rivalries — long simmering beneath the surface — may once again be spilling into broad daylight.

A Vibrant Life Cut Short

Minors, remembered as a hardworking entrepreneur with “a vibrant, beautiful personality,” leaves behind two children, ages 16 and 18. Her murder has ignited outrage across Bermuda, not just for its senselessness but for its timing: the island had once prided itself on virtually stamping out gun violence.

Then: Near-Zero Murders

Back in 2014, Bermuda made international headlines for reporting zero firearm murders — a remarkable achievement given the small island had endured a spate of gang-related shootings in the early 2010s. Police credited intelligence-led operations, tighter firearms interdictions, and aggressive prosecutions of gang leaders. Community programs and mentoring initiatives also played a role, giving at-risk youth alternatives to gang life.

By 2015 and 2016, gun crime was at historic lows. That period was hailed as proof Bermuda could beat back the tide of violence with coordinated policing, social investment, and political will.

Now: Alarming Resurgence

Fast forward nine years, and the picture looks starkly different. In 2024 and 2025, Bermuda has recorded a rise in gun-related deaths. Rival gangs such as Parkside and 42 have resurged, fueled by a new generation of recruits. Economic pressures, high youth unemployment, and the easy flow of smuggled firearms through maritime routes have undermined earlier gains.

Community trust in the police has also eroded, making investigations harder and retaliations more likely. Opposition MPs and neighborhood leaders warn that without sustained focus, Bermuda risks sliding back into the violent cycles of the early 2010s.

Public Alarm and Political Pressure

Premier David Burt condemned Minors’ killing as “an escalation of community violence that cannot be tolerated,” promising stronger enforcement and deeper engagement with residents. The Bermuda Police Service has appealed for CCTV, dashcam, and doorbell footage from the area, urging residents that even the smallest detail could break the case.

Yet among the public, frustration is growing. People remember the calm of 2014 — when zero murders were recorded — and cannot understand how the island has returned to headlines dominated by gun violence. The contrast is stark: from celebrating the elimination of gun murders to confronting the targeted execution of a businesswoman in broad daylight.

A Test for Bermuda’s Future

The murder of Janae Minors has become more than a single case; it is now a symbol of Bermuda’s struggle to hold on to the progress it once made. The question facing the island is whether the successes of a decade ago can be replicated and sustained in today’s harsher climate of economic pressure and gang rivalries.

For Minors’ family, nothing can erase the tragedy of losing a mother and daughter so violently. But for Bermuda at large, her death is a wake-up call — that the island cannot afford complacency when it comes to crime.

As one community leader put it: “Nine years ago, we had beaten this. Now, we’re back to fearing what happens when the sun goes down. That is not the Bermuda we want to live in.”

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Crime

Two Injured in Sunday Blue Hills Shootings

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Magnetic Media & Eagle Legal News

 

Turks and Caicos, August 29, 2025 – A quiet Sunday afternoon in Blue Hills was shattered on August 24 when bursts of gunfire erupted along Front Street, leaving two people injured and sparking renewed fears in the community.

According to Eagle Legal News Media, residents reported hearing a barrage of bullets around 3:30 p.m., forcing people to run for cover. Videos from the crime scene later showed more than two dozen evidence markers scattered across the roadway, documenting the scale of the attack.

At least two individuals were struck by gunfire, though police sources said their injuries were not considered life-threatening. The victims were treated at Cheshire Hall Medical Centre, where emergency services were briefly disrupted as staff responded to the influx of casualties.

The spray of bullets also damaged property. A small black Japanese car had its window blown out, while a truck parked nearby bore visible bullet holes.

The shooting came on the very same day that senior police and national security officials had gathered for a special church service in Providenciales, where prayers were offered for peace and protection across the islands. Just hours later, residents of Blue Hills were ducking for cover as bullets tore through their community.

The attack also followed weeks of heightened restrictions. Though Blue Hills had only recently emerged from a community-wide curfew, neighboring Five Cays remained under emergency restrictions until August 26. Additional late-night rules — including 2 a.m. closures for businesses and a ban on after-hours alcohol sales — remain in place following the July 27 Hookah Lounge mass shooting that killed four people.

Police cordoned off Front Street during their investigation, but as of press time, no arrests had been announced.

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Crime

Police Seize Rifle and Ammunition in Blue Hills, 2025 Marked by Guns and Drug Arrests

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Providenciales, Turks and Caicos — August 22, 2025 – The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force (RT&CIPF) has recovered a high-powered rifle and more than 250 rounds of ammunition following a targeted operation in the Blue Hills community of Providenciales.

According to police, officers from the Tactical Unit and the Criminal Investigations Division acted on intelligence and searched an open area where they discovered the weapon, 255 assorted rounds, and firearm accessories. No arrests were made. The investigation is continuing.

This seizure adds to a string of police actions in 2025 against guns and narcotics.

On March 27, officers executed a warrant at a residence in Pete Court, Kew Town. Police say they discovered several bags of suspected cannabis and tablets believed to be methamphetamine. A 58-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply.

In July, the Turks and Caicos Islands Border Force intercepted two separate narcotics shipments under Operation Transit Shed. More than 26 kilograms of cannabis and other drugs, with an estimated street value of over US $260,000, were seized. The contraband had been vacuum-sealed and hidden in boxes with detergent odors to mask the smell.

Days later, the country faced its first mass shooting when gunmen opened fire at a nightclub in Providenciales. Three people were killed and ten others injured. No arrests have been reported. Police are offering a US $10,000 reward for information leading to those responsible.

Police Commissioner Fitz Bailey has urged the public to cooperate with investigations, while Premier Charles Washington Misick described the surge in gun violence as a serious threat to the nation’s security.

Residents are being encouraged to report illegal activity by calling 911, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-8477, or using the P3 app.

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