Nov. 26, 2005 –– Police arrested Tullius C. Stewart at Cyril E. King Airport at 6:19 p.m. on Thursday. Stewart, a St. John resident, wanted in connection with an Oct. 23 grand larceny at the Grunwald home of David Geiger, had told the police exactly when he would be arriving from California, but was not accompanied by any law enforcement personnel, Sgt. Thomas Hannah, police spokesman, said Friday.
Stewart is charged with grand larceny and possession of stolen property.
On Oct. 29, Geiger, 44, was murdered with a blunt force instrument and his bed – where his body was found – set on fire. Geiger's 14-year-old son, Nathan, was also severely injured in the incident. Neighbors pulled Nathan Geiger from the house and put out the fire.
Hannah said Friday that Stewart had turned himself in because, "he didn't want any part of what happened afterward," meaning the murder.
Hannah said that Renell Lettsome, 21, is still wanted on first-degree murder charges in connection with the Geiger murder. Lettsome, who remains at large, is considered armed and dangerous.
Lettsome is also wanted on first-degree assault, third-degree assault, arson, and the possession and use of a dangerous weapon during the commission of a violent crime. If he is apprehended it has already been determined he'll have to post $1 million in bail money to get out of jail.
Police Commissioner Elton Lewis said at a press conference Monday, called to announce the arrest warrants had been issued for the pair, that Lettsome may be on Tortola, but added the police have received conflicting information.
He said that anyone found harboring Lettsome will be arrested.
Lewis said in press release issued Friday afternoon that Stewart contacted the police Monday – several hours after he had announced that Superior Court warrants had been issued for Stewart and Lettsome.
Lewis said Stewart, 29, called from California and told police he wanted to turn himself in.
Hannah said in a phone conversation Friday that the warrant was issued for Stewart's arrest was based on reports of $50,000 or more being missing from Geiger's house. Hannah did not know who made the reports to police, but said Friday that the department had received several calls from St. John about the missing money before Geiger was killed.
Bail was set at $100,000, but Lewis, in the press release, said that Stewart failed to post bail.
"He was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections on St. Thomas," Lewis said.
According to reports in the Saturday editions of The V.I. Daily News and The Avis newspapers, Stewart was released on his own recognizance by Superior Court Judge Leon Kendall at a Friday morning advice of rights hearing.
The Daily News reported Kendall found probable cause to uphold the charges against Stewart, then released him, ruling his voluntary return to the territory and surrender demonstrated that he was not a flight risk. Bail had previously been set at $100,000, an amount Kendall said he found excessive.
Stewart's arraignment hearing, according to the Avis, is Dec. 1.
Lewis asked that anyone with information about Lettsome call the Police Department's Major Crime Unit at 715-5534 or 715-5546, the Crime Line at 777-8711 or 911.
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