Two members of the Virgin Islands National Guard are featured on “Virgin Islands Case Files,” which is continuing its run this Thursday, Feb. 16, with an all-new episode. This episode is about the unsolved homicide cases of two Virgin Islands National Guard members. It will repeat on Feb. 18. Episode 5 of the monthly series will take a closer look at the stories of Private First-Class KyJuan Naughton and Staff Sergeant David Francois.
KyJuan Naughton, a first-time father of a one-month-old baby boy, was serving on territorial active duty in St. Thomas supporting the 2017 hurricane relief effort at the time of his murder.
The 21-year-old guardsman left the National Guard Armory between 8 and 9 p.m. on Sept. 27, 2017, and he was found shot to death the next morning in the yard of a Smith Bay residence by two people surveying hurricane damages to their home.
“No one knows who he went to… no one knows why he was found in Smith Bay,” said Sergeant Dwight Griffith of the Virgin Islands Police Department. “If anybody knows anything, please say something.”
David Francois, a former paratrooper, was working as a computer specialist with the Virgin Islands National Guard at the time of his death. His wife reported to police that she found him dead while the two were at a beach in Frederiksted on the afternoon of Monday, Nov. 18, 2013.
“We believe that this was more than likely a murder for hire… but to prove it, that’s where we are in this puzzle,” said Lt. Naomi Joseph. “So, we’re actually and hopeful that after somebody sees this, they may come forward and say what they know.”
Anyone with information about these two cases should call Crime Stoppers USVI at 1-800-222-TIPS.
‘Virgin Islands Case Files’ is supported by the Virgin Islands Police Department to help address the high number of unsolved murders in the territory. The show serves as a call to action for residents to come forward with new information that could help detectives close longstanding homicide cases. Family members who wish to see their loved ones’ cases featured on future episodes of Virgin Islands Case Files should email vicasefiles@gmail.com.
Episode 5 of ‘Virgin Islands Case Files’ aired at 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 16, and will repeat at 9 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 18, on WTJX-TV Channel 12, on the WTJX app or by localizing WTJX on the PBS Video app which is available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Android TV, Samsung Smart TV, Chromecast and VIZIO.
