ST. THOMAS — A man was found dead at Frenchmann’s Bay here on Friday, and another was discovered by the coastguard unresponsive near Water Island also on Friday, the latter having been classified as a drowning incident, VIPD Public Information Officer Kevin Jackson revealed on Saturday. Both victims were Caucasian males.
According to Mr. Jackson, citing a police report, at about 11:08 a.m. on Friday, officers were dispatched by the 911 emergency call center to a residence located in Frenchman’s Bay in relation to the discovery of a suicide victim.
Responding officers observed the unresponsive body of a Caucasian male, propped against a column with a hose attached to the column. The neighbor who called 911 said he discovered the man hanging from the column with the hose around his neck like a noose. The neighbor hurriedly cut the hose and sat the body against the column and then called 911.
The suicide victim has been identified as 26-year-old Michael Austin, who suffered with acute depression, according to the release.
As for the drowning incident, at about 11:08 a.m. on the same day, the 911 emergency call center dispatched officers to a drowning that had occurred near Water Island.
Responding officers were directed to the Coast Guard dock, where they observed the unresponsive body of a Caucasian male that had been listed as dead on arrival (DOA).
According to statements given to officers, the drowned man had been involved in a diving excursion with visiting relatives when he experienced difficulties during the dive, causing him to drown.
The deceased was later identified as 65-year-old Warren Thomas Murphy, a longtime resident of St. Thomas.
Tags: drowning in st. thomas usvi, Michael Austin, suicide in st. thomas usvi, Thomas Murphy
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