Police in Orlando, Fla., have few leads as of yet in the slayings of a St. Thomas woman and her niece last week.
Virgin Islands residents are mourning the loss of Helena Mills, 41, and her teen-age niece JoAnna Charles, who were found dead, apparently murdered, in the bathroom of Mills' apartment Nov. 6 by Mills' 13-year-old son, Dwayne Rivers.
Both victims are being brought home to St. Thomas for burial.
According to a Friday report in the Orlando Sentinel, police are searching for Mi green 1996 Mazda 626, which they hope may contain clues in the case.
Sgt. Louis Tanzi of the Orlando police homicide unit told the Sentinel that "nothing in the lifestyle of the victims" suggested the killings were drug-related; police suggested robbery may have been a motive.
Mills moved to the Orlando area from St. Thomas about two years ago. She worked wrapping boxes at a Federal Express company, according to an account in the Orlando Sentinel. Her niece moved from St. Thomas to live with her several months ago.
On St. Thomas, Mills had worked for attorney George Dudley for more than 14 years beginning in 1982. She was first a nanny to his twin children and later managed the household.
"She totally ran my home," Dudley said. She was the person who dealt with contractors for hurricane reconstruction as well as day-to-day happenings. Her son also lived in the Dudley household, and Dudley expressed concern for him in the wake of the tragedy.
He described Mills as "very religious, very bright."
Dudley's former wife, Adriane Dudley, said Mills "was just a really good person." When the children were young, "we used to make plays. We had a lot of fun." Her former charges "miss her profoundly."
The Orlando Sentinel quoted a friend of Mills, Gleneth Byron, saying the victim "lived in church. It was her life." Also from St. Thomas, Byron had moved to Orlando at Mills' urging.
According to the Sentinel account, Mills' son first called Byron, then, at her urging, called 911 to report the apparent murders.
The newspaper said Mills' car was missing from the scene but that a new red Honda, belonging to her niece, was parked in front of her condominium. JoAnna Charles was a senior at Edgewater High School and worked at a KFC restaurant, according to the newspaper account.
The Sentinel gave her age as 17, but it is listed as 16 in a funeral announcement by St. Thomas' Creque Funeral Home.
Viewing for her will be from 5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home and the service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Mt. Zion New Testament Church in Tutu. Called Jo Jo, her full name is JoAnna Helena Charles. Her parents are Joycelyn Crawford and John Charles.
Arrangements for Mills are being handled by John Thomas Funeral Home and are still pending, but a service is tentatively set for Friday.
