Three Cayman Islands Fire Service officers who were suspected of taking and distributing grisly crime scene photos of a murder-suicide in Bodden Town were placed on “required leave” Monday.
The Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed that the three officers were put on paid leave pending the outcome of a police investigation relating to the photographs which depicted the two people who died in the incident.
According to a police statement released Friday, the three fire officers are “subject of a report” to the chief fire officer and the chief officer of the Ministry of Home Affairs in relation to photographs of the two Jamaican nationals, whose bodies were found on Feb. 9 on a property in the Lookout Gardens area of Bodden Town.
The statement indicated: “The police enquiry into the circulation of the images continues and the RCIPS is in close liaison with the [Director of Public Prosecution’s] office who will ultimately decide what, if any offenses, have been committed in relation to the distribution of the images.”
A government official said Monday that the firefighters could face disciplinary action over the photos, up to and including losing their jobs.
The images were spread via social media in the days following the suspected murder-suicide.
The murder victim, 21-year-old Nichelle Anna-Kay Thomas, apparently was stabbed and slashed by her attacker. Outside the residence, the body of 39-year-old Devon Campbell was found hanging from a tree. Investigators described the incident as a “homicide and possible suicide” that “may be domestic-related.”
It is understood the Ms. Thomas’s mother was hospitalized last week after seeing images of the crime scene.
Related Videos
