Portland man accused of killing his two wives

A special team of detectives is being assembled to look at cold cases and reopening investigations into them.

Sleuths have so far reopened the case involving the murder of Merlene McDonald, a Portland woman who was shot and killed outside her house in the community of Boundbrook. Her husband, Everton 'Beachy Stout' McDonald, was yesterday charged with her murder.

McDonald is also charged in relation to the gruesome murder of his second wife, 32-year-old Tonia McDonald who was killed in Sherwood Forest last July.

In the case of Merlene's killing, the Port Antonio police report that she left her business place for home shortly after 10 p.m. with her grandson. She drove into her driveway, got out of her Toyota Harrier SUV and went to get her grandson out of the vehicle when explosions were heard.

McDonald was found clutching her handbag between the SUV and the wall at the entrance to her house, with gunshot wounds to her face.

The matter remained unsolved for years until the death of Tonia when police took another look, and following investigations, 'Beachy Stout' was charged.

Cold case

"That's a cold case that was under investigation," Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitz Biley said at a press conference yesterday. "If you get involved in contract killing, we are going to get you. It may take a while but we will find you," he said.

The senior cop said that the file with Merlene's murder was reopened following the murder of Tonia.

'Beachy Stout' and two others, Denvalyn Minott and Aska Barnes, were taken into custody in August 2020 for Tonia's murder. Minott pleaded guilty to murder in the Home Circuit Court last September and was sentenced to 19 years in prison.

Minott, in his caution statement, which was cited in court by prosecutors, claimed that he had been contracted by Everton McDonald to kill Tonia.

"He said that the arrangement was that payment of $3 million would be made for the killing of Mrs McDonald," one prosecutor said in court.