The Tribune

By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

THE BADLY beaten body of a partially clothed woman was discovered off West Bay Street early yesterday morning bringing the country’s murder count to 36 for the year.

Inspector Chrislyn Skippings said police are still unsure of the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death. However, they confirmed that the matter was being investigated as a homicide.

She said: “We received information around 7am that a body, that appeared to be female, was discovered in an open area near Perpall Track off West Bay Street. She appeared to have injuries to her upper body. We are still unsure of how she died but investigations are ongoing.”

Police have not yet identified the woman, but the Tribune understands she is Haitian-Bahamian in her early twenties.

Sources close to the investigation say she was discovered face down under a red Dodge Ram wearing only a ripped shirt with no underwear.

However, the source said police do not believe she was run over by the truck, but rather beaten to death with a blunt object then put under the vehicle.

There were no visible signs of bullet holes or stab wounds. Police are also unsure if she was sexually assaulted.

Police were alerted to the body after a man who was walking his dog around 6.30am noticed the animal had a bloody cloth in his mouth.

Police and EMS personnel arrived a short time later and pronounced the woman dead at the scene.

Anyone with information on this latest murder is asked to contact police at 911 or 919, the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 328-TIPS.

Meanwhile police are investigating another homicide that occurred last Wednesday.

According to Inspector Skippings the victim, who has been identified as 25-year-old Darron Caroll of Tufu Close of East Street, was shot last week but police did not learn of his death until almost a week later.

Caroll along with another man was shot in Yellow Elder Gardens on April 4. Both men were taken to hospital where Caroll was listed in serious condition and the other man was stable.

However, Caroll died of his injuries later that night.

Active investigations are continuing.