The Virgin Islands Police Department has announced the arrest of a man suspected of killing a St. Thomas woman and leaving her body in a burning house in Mandahl Bay, according to the department’s public information officer, Kevin Jackson.
John James Natta, the victim’s husband, was arrested at 4:25 p.m. on Wednesday, following an arrest warrant issued by Judge Denise M. Francois on Jan. 29. He was charged on several counts, including first degree murder, second degree murder, third degree assault, unauthorized possession of a dangerous weapon during the commission of the first degree murder, unauthorized possession of a dangerous weapon during the commission of the second degree murder, unauthorized possession of a dangerous weapon during the commission of the third degree assault, and arson in the first degree.
The charges and arrest were made in connection with an incident that occurred slightly after 8 a.m. on Jan. 23, when a 911 call was made to report a residential fire in Estate Mandahl.
The V.I. Fire Service dispatched two units from the Lima Company in Tutu and suppressed the fire. Afterwards, officials found the body of 54-year-old Merle Natta in the kitchen area with signs of trauma to the body unrelated to the fire and ruled the incident a homicide.
No bail was set for John James Natta.
Tags: mandahl bay arrest
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