St. Martin News Network

Philipsburg:--- The investigation into the death of two people who died last Sunday morning, April 22, 2012, on the A.Th. Illidge Road has been completed, said Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos in a press release on Tuesday. Mos said based on intensive investigation of the crime scene by the Forensics Department and detectives, Police and the Prosecutor’s Office have come to the conclusion that a murder and a subsequent suicide have taken place that morning.

Early Sunday morning a Police patrol was directed to A. Th. Illidge Road at 72b for possible problems with one of the tenants. During their investigation Police officers were unable to enter the house.  During their onsite investigation Police officers were confronted with the later male victim by the name of Cleon A. Bourne (55) from Guyana, who already was severely injured and  jumped from the upstairs bedroom window further seriously injuring himself. He was treated on the scene by paramedics and then transported to the Sint Maarten Medical Center for further treatment. As the investigation continued and after entering the house, the body of the second victim, a female by the name Cheryl V. Withbrite (52) also from Guyana ,was found in the bedroom. As the coroner’s investigation has shown now, she had she died of multiple stab wounds. At approximately 09.00 a.m. that same morning the male victim died in the hospital of the wounds he sustained.

As the investigation shows, both victims were involved in a relationship for quite some time and living together at that address. For some unknown reason the relationship had gone bad. Witnesses heard an early morning rumor in the house and crying.

The conclusion of the investigation is that Bourne first took the life of Withbrite and thereafter took his own life. The thorough investigation in this case, both forensic and by talking to witnesses,  has not shown any indication for other scenarios or the involvement of third parties.

Press Release from Public Prosecutor's Office