Dec. 22, 2003 – Police Department homicide detectives and forensic agents returned on Monday to an Estate Whim residence that was the scene over the weekend of the island's latest recorded murder.
They were seeking to establish a motive for the stabbing death of 48-year-old Trinidad Guzman. They theorize that she was stabbed multiple times while struggling with an intruder during a burglary attempt at her home sometime between 6 p.m. Saturday and 12:20 a.m. Sunday.
The homicide is the third this month on St. Croix.
Neighbors of Guzman on Monday recalled a once-quiet neighborhood in Estate Whim but said that crime is infiltrating their community, like so many others.
Police officers found Guzman's body lying face up on the floor of her bedroom. She had been stabbed repeatedly.
"It appears that she had expired from several knife wounds about her body," Sgt. Thomas Hannah, police spokesman, said on Monday, referring to "a possible burglary that had occurred."
Hannah said police were dispatched to the woman's home after a man identifying himself as her boyfriend reported that he had gone to the residence to check on her, but upon arriving suspected that the house was being burglarized.
"He did not go in, as he was fearful that a burglary was in progress," Hannah said of the unidentified man.
The homicide is the ninth recorded on St. Croix this year and the 29th in the territory.
Police ask that anyone with information concerning the case contact authorities by calling 778-2211, 778-4950 or 911.
