Police Investigate Reported Rape in Cruz Bay

Picture above: Facial composite of alleged rape suspect courtesy of Virgin Islands Police Department.

Police at Zone D Command received a report on Friday from a resident of Estate Carolina, saying she was raped at gunpoint. The incident was reported on Friday.

According to a statement given by the victim, the assault took place in the vicinity of the Cruz Bay tennis courts. The date and time of the incident were not immediately given.

The report stated that a female was approached by an unknown male who held her at gunpoint and committed sexual intercourse against her will.

St. Thomas-St. John District Police Chief Jason Marsh said the case is in the hands of the VI Police Department Major Crimes Bureau.

“We follow the pattern of all rapes. The victim was transported to the hospital,” Marsh said.

Concern about the alleged assault in Cruz Bay has sparked rumors on social media. Some of the concern dates back to 2016 when a rash of sexual assault reports came into authorities from the Nazareth and Red Hook areas.

In the latest reported incident from Jan. 24, an alleged rape occurred in Estate Frydenhoj. Police spokesperson Shakeda Freeman said a woman told police she was locking up her house to go to work when she was accosted by a male who held a gun on her and forced her to move a distance from the house and then assaulted her.

Investigators have since released a composite sketch of the alleged perpetrator.

Anyone who thinks they have information that could lead to the identification and arrest of a suspect is asked to contact the VIPD Criminal Investigations Bureau at 340-714-9805 or 340-714-9800 they can also call Crime Stoppers USVI at 800-222-TIPS.

They can also call the police emergency line at 911.