William Hyde, the victim of a beating last month at Magens Bay, was still clinging to life in a Florida hospital as of noon Friday, according to the V.I. Police Department.
News reports and rumors in the community had reported Hyde passed away this week after being taken off life support, but "those reports are premature," St. Thomas/ St. John Chief of Police Darren Foy said.
Foy said detectives have been in touch with Hyde’s daughter and spoke to her late Thursday night. She said her father is still alive. Chief Foy confirmed that Hyde was taken off life support Monday evening.
“Mr. Hyde seems to be a strong individual, he is still hanging on.”
“The VIPD attempts to release information that is both timely and accurate,” Foy said. “Some cases require that we wait for accurate information and that may cause a delay in the information being released to the public.”
According to police, Hyde was assaulted by five young men aged 16 to 17 on Nov. 23. Police reports say one of them, who knew the victim, called Hyde and asked for a ride. When he showed up, all five suspects allegedly took Hyde in the vehicle to Magens Bay, where they assaulted him, leaving him for dead.
The names of the suspects have not been released due to a department policy of not naming juvenile suspects. The five were arrested Monday, then released to their parents recognizance and have been reported back at their St. Thomas public high school.
