Investigative work by the Police Department’s cold case squad has led to arrests in two outstanding homicides, VIPD top brass announced Tuesday.
The suspect identified in the Dec. 11, 2003, stabbing death of Stewart Elliot Sargeant – known as "Boy Blue," whose body was found at his home in Estate Wintberg – is Crystal Irons, a Florida resident currently serving time in Lowell Correctional Institution for an unrelated crime.
During their investigation, members of the Cold Case Squad and a VIPD forensic detective traveled to Florida in January 2009 to gather DNA evidence for the case. In June, an arrest warrant charging Irons with first-degree murder and possession of a dangerous weapon during the commission of a crime of violence was issued and bail was set at $100,000.
Irons’ current prison sentence is up in early 2010. After she’s released, she will be brought to St. Thomas to face the murder and weapons charges, District Police Chief Rodney Querrard Sr. said during a Tuesday-afternoon press conference.
Meanwhile, Rasheed Wilson – known as "Jimmy Mo" – has been arrested and charged with second degree murder for the death of Clement Smith Jr., who was found in December 2001 lying on his back near the 1982 Bar and Restaurant on Lower Krondprindsens Gade. Police responding to the scene found Smith had been stabbed at least once in the neck. That was determined to be the cause of death.
The cold case squad was assigned to look into the matter in October 2008 and its investigation pinpointed Wilson as a "person of interest" in the murder. A search warrant was issued in June 2009, allowing investigators to gather DNA evidence, Querrard explained.
Wilson was advised of his rights in Superior Court Tuesday. Magistrate Judge Kathleen Mackay upheld the charges against him and set bail at $100,000.
"The ones with the easiest solvability factor are usually the ones that are considered first," Querrard said Tuesday, when asked how the squad chooses which cases to investigate. "These two, for example, more or less needed some clearing up."
Cold case detectives are working on other outstanding homicides and are looking for the community’s help in solving two more, Querrard added Tuesday. Along with the July 2008 shooting death of retired Police Sgt. Liston Gumbs, police are also looking for more information on the Dec. 26, 2001, murder of Kenrick Mason, who was shot in the early morning hours near Cost-U-Less.
Querrard said police have been getting "a number of calls" in response to posters that have recently been posted around the island soliciting information about Gumbs’ killing.
"We’re hoping that this is one of the cases we’re going to wrap up shortly," he added during the press conference.
The cold case squad was formed in early August 2008 and is made up of a retired police sergeant and two retired police corporals with experience in both the VIPD’s Investigations Bureau and Major Crimes Unit.
"The cold case squad is working on getting closure to some of these families who never thought they would see the light at the end of the tunnel," Querrard said Tuesday, adding that the department is willing to bring on more retirees to bolster its efforts in solving all open homicide cases.
With the homicide rate in the territory recently hitting a record 49 murders for the year, Major Crimes is also working around the clock, he added. The department is continuing to "make headway" in its investigations, but still needs the community’s help in providing information, Querrard said.
Many of the murders are wrapped up in turf wars or gang disputes and police believe that "a lot of what’s going on now is retaliation," he explained.
Over the weekend on St. Thomas, 23-year-old Curtiss Thomas was killed near the Domino Gas Station in Estate Frydenhoj.
"We think this most recent homicide on Sunday was tied to his father’s death in someway," Querrard said. He asked that residents who have already called in with information about Thomas’ death contact the Major Crimes Unit.
"We know that these individuals who called in while the incident was happening or after have more information to give," Querrard said.
To contact the cold case squad, residents can call 714-9843 or 642-8450 or Crime Stoppers USVI at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Major Crimes Detectives can be reached at 715-5545, 715-5546 or 642-8449.