Nov. 6, 5.10 a.m.
The unknown woman found bleeding from the head in a fatal stabbing on St. Thomas Saturday has been identified and a suspect is now in custody, the V.I. Police Department reported Saturday.
The victim has been identified by next of kin as 39-year-old Laura Blyden of St. Thomas. An investigation revealed that Blyden suffered at least one puncture wound to the upper body, the police report stated.
VIPD received information that a possible suspect was in Building 2 of the Oswald Harris Court housing community. Officers made contact with 37-year-old Ahjahra Francis and he was placed in custody, the report stated.
Francis was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Bail will be set pending his advice of rights hearing, police said.
Nov. 5, 3.30 6.28 p.m.
An unknown female was found bleeding from her head on St. Thomas, the V.I. Police Department reported Saturday.
Citizens at Oswald Harris Court Housing Community contacted 911 Saturday about a female victim that was bleeding from the head. VIPD and EMS technicians arrived at the scene and observed an unresponsive female, the police report stated.
She was pronounced dead at the scene by the medical examiner and the name of the deceased is currently pending for next of kin identification, the report stated.
The police have a person of interest in custody.
The unknown female’s death is the 9th homicide on St. Thomas in 2022, according to the Source Homicide List. The territory has had a total of 31 homicides this year.
This is an ongoing investigation.
