Fugitive charged with tourist’s murder

Detectives attached to the Major Investigation Division (MID) in Trelawny have charged a St James man with the March 2020 murder of an American tourist in Montego Bay.

The accused, Soniman Walker, 21, otherwise called 'Soniman' or 'Shortman' of a Lilliput address, was charged on Wednesday with the murder of Theodore Walling, 65, of Michigan.

Reports are that about 10 a.m., an employee at the guest house where Walling was on vacation went to his room and discovered him lying on the floor in a pool of blood.

Investigators attached to the MID were summoned, and upon arrival, it was discovered that Walling had multiple stab wounds to his neck and his personal belongings were stolen.

An investigation was carried out, and after a surveillance tape at the guest house was reviewed, a male figure fitting Walker's description was seen coming from Walling's room. Employees at the guest house also informed the police that he was seen in the company of Walling prior to him being found murdered. A manhunt was launched to apprehend Walker, but the cops learnt that Walker had fled the parish. But on Friday, May 14, he was held in a police operation carried out in Rocky Point, Clarendon.

Reports are that about 4 p.m., a team of officers carried out an operation at a fishing village in Rocky Point after they received information that a group of men trafficking drugs were in the process of sailing to a neighbouring island.

During the operation, Walker, who was featured on the St James most wanted list by the police, was identified as he was being processed. One investigator told THE WEEKEND STAR that had the police waited any longer, Walker would have been smuggled out of the country. The officer said that investigations have revealed that Walker was being given passage out of Jamaica through the same criminal network used in the drugs-for-guns trade.