Police in Pottstown, Penn., on Thursday arrested Jacques Cajuste, a Haitian national, on a warrant charging him with murder in the June 22, 2005, murder of St. Thomas restaurant owner Egbert "Manno" Stuart.
Viviane Stuart, also Haitian, the widow of Stuart and, according to police, the former lover of Cajuste, was arrested on St. Thomas by members of the Cold Case and Investigation Bureau of the V.I. Police Department and also charged in the case.
According to the police report, Stuart’s lifeless body was discovered in his residence in the Heritage Hills Condos. He had had sustained multiple stab wounds to his body and was found with a large kitchen knife impaled in his neck, police said.
“Manno was a local businessman, the owner of Manno’s Restaurant and well-loved in the community," the VIPD said in its news release.
The two suspected were arrested on warrants issued under seal by Superior Court Judge Denise Francois.
Cajuste was arrested in Pottstown and charged with the stabbing death of Stuart. He is awaiting an extradition hearing.
Viviane Stuart was taken to the Bureau of Corrections pending an advice of rights hearing. She has been charged with first-degree murder, aiding and abetting, first-degree assault, third-degree aiding and abetting, third-degree assault, aiding and abetting, and using a dangerous weapon during the commission of a crime of violence.
The police urged anyone with information to help solve crimes by calling the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-774-2211 on St. Thomas or 340 778-2211 on St. Croix, or calling the anonymous tip service, Crime Stoppers VI, at 1-800-222-8477.
