“Virgin Islands Case Files” is a new monthly television series profiling cold case homicides in the Virgin Islands that will premiere this week on WTJX-TV Channel 12.
This TV series is supported by the Virgin Islands Police Department to help address the staggering number of unsolved murders in the territory.
Each episode of the half-hour show features a homicide case from St. Thomas/St. John and a case from St. Croix. The stories are narrated by VIPD detectives and those who knew and loved the victims.
“We’re telling these stories in an engaging but non-exploitative manner, with compassion and sensitivity for the victims and their families,” said Makeda Russell, the show’s producer.
“From a law enforcement perspective, we hope to utilize this show as a means for bringing closure to some of these families who, over time, have seen no movement on the cases of their loved ones,” said VIPD Commissioner Ray Martinez.
“We’re showcasing these cases because we’re hoping that somebody in our community is going to recall seeing or hearing something and give our cold case investigators a call with information that could assist them in moving these cases forward and ultimately bringing the perpetrators to justice,” Martinez said.
“Virgin Islands Case Files” is hosted by longtime anti-gun violence advocate Celia Carroll, who lost her son, Jason, in a daylight shooting 22 years ago.
Jason’s killer was convicted two years after his murder, and Carroll hopes to help other families find their closure as well.
“It is important that we break the silence because these cases cannot be solved without witnesses coming forward,” Carroll said.
The premiere episode of Virgin Islands Case Files airs at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, on WTJX-TV Channel 12, featuring the cases of Rique and Aaron Ashby on St. Thomas and Shukura St. Louis and Kurt Lawrence on St. Croix. Family members who wish to see their loved ones’ cases featured on a future episode of “Virgin Islands Case Files” should email vicasefiles@gmail.com.
The show will premiere at 8:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20, and repeat at 6:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 22, on WTJX-TV Channel 12, on the WTJX app, and 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.
