Crime
Homicide No. 40 for the Turks & Caicos is a wake up call
Deandrea Hamilton and Wilkie Arthur
Editorial Team
Turks and Caicos, October 25, 2024 – Another Sunday murder was recorded on October 20 and the victim, a man was discovered in a dark blue car, reportedly with what appeared to be his leg hanging out of an opened door of the vehicle.
Images from the crime scene were heartbreaking, as a wife charges toward the car to see if the report of her husband being shot dead was true. Sadly, it was.
The 40th murder for the year in the islands seems to have taken place on Walter Cox Drive, where the body of the victim was found.
Royal TCI Police information said, we are “investigating the 40th homicide of the year, which occurred on Sunday, October 20, 2024.
Preliminary investigations reveal that the victim, identified as 43-year-old ESTON LUNDY, was seated in a vehicle along Walter Cox Drive, Kew Town when he was fatally shot.
Officers responded to the scene after receiving multiple calls reporting gunfire at approximately 2:23 p.m.
The brazen nature of this crime reflects an ongoing concern in the TCI regarding the illegal use of firearms,” the report issued on Monday October 21st said.
A day before, the chiefs of the National Security Council – Her Excellency Daleeni Daniel-Selveratnam and Hon Washington Missick – were
weighing in on the grim milestone. It’s the highest ever homicide rate for the TCI.
“This situation is unacceptable. We want to assure you that we are taking decisive action to secure our law enforcement response and build our capability to deal with the threats we face. In the last month, the RTCIPF has received additional specialist capability assigned to the serious crime team and tactical firearms unit. Our multi-agency law enforcement efforts have intensified in high-risk areas, with intelligence-led operations aimed at disrupting and dismantling criminal groups. The safety of our communities and all who visit is our top priority”, said the Governor and Premier.
But for many residents, the common refrain offered little solace and failed to inspire confidence about their grip on crime.
From one of the country’s spiritual leaders and regular writer, Chad Archbold there was this, “The murder rate in our beloved islands has catapulted us into a realm of violence once unimaginable. Each death feels like an open wound on the national consciousness, especially for a people so connected to community. In a population as small as ours, every murder hits twice as hard, resonating across families, churches, and communities. This year, Turks and Caicos is on track for a record-breaking number of murders. Gun violence, in particular, has become the tool of destruction, leaving behind broken homes, shattered lives, and deepening fear. The tragedy of the 40th death marks more than a statistic; it is a clarion call for change. As we reach this symbolic number, the spiritual and national implications cannot be ignored. Just as 40 in Scripture signals a moment of reckoning, so too must we recognize this moment as one that demands reflection, repentance, and revival.”
Police say “ELEVEN firearms and a large quantity of assorted ammunition for the year. The RT&CIPF is working closely with regional and international law enforcement agencies to stem the illegal flow of firearms and ammunition, as well as to identify the major perpetrators of these organized criminal network.”
All of the statements offered condolences and called for synergy.
“…we cannot do it alone, as the public’s assistance and support in the fight against crime is indispensable.”
To help, contact 911, the Serious Crime Unit at 231-1842, or Crime
Stoppers at 1-800-8477 to provide information anonymously.
You can also download the Crime Stoppers P3 app to provide information.
Deandrea Hamilton | Editor
Blue Hills, Turks and Caicos — June 26, 2025 – The Turks and Caicos community is in mourning following the brutal killing of a security guard during a robbery at GK Food Store in Blue Hills, a crime police are now investigating as a deliberate assassination.
The victim has been identified as 42-year-old Mervin Mattelles Joseph, a long-serving officer with Spencer Security & Investigation
Services Ltd., and a devoted husband and father of two young boys. According to eyewitnesses and disturbing crime scene video, Joseph was shot multiple times, even as he attempted to flee. His lifeless body was later found face-down near the store entrance, sparking renewed outrage over the vulnerability of frontline security personnel in the territory. “This was more than just a robbery — this was an execution,” said a spokesperson for Spencer Security in an emotional statement. “Mervin was targeted and gunned down while trying to protect others. He gave his life in service and deserved better.” The robbery occurred around 5:29 p.m. on June 25, when three masked, armed men stormed the busy community grocery store. After fatally shooting Joseph, the assailants proceeded to rob the business and fled on foot. Despite a swift response and active dragnet by the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force, the suspects remain at large.
In a rare public appeal, the police have urged anyone with CCTV footage or information—no matter how small—to come forward. “We need the public’s help,” said a police spokesperson. “Justice for Mr. Joseph and his family depends on it.”
The senseless killing has sent shockwaves through the community and reignited calls for better protections for security officers. “He couldn’t even identify them — they didn’t have to kill him,” said one eyewitness. “He was doing his job.”
As the investigation continues, Mervin Joseph is remembered not only as a guard, but as a protector, a father, and a man who paid the ultimate price for his commitment to safeguarding others. The community now awaits justice for a loss that is as profound as it is heartbreaking.
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