June 27, 2005 – Police released a poster this week designed to solicit information from anyone who might have seen Tristan A. Charlier and Leon H. Roberts in the hours before they were shot to death in the early morning hours of June 15.
A release accompanying the poster, said "The Virgin Islands Police Department – Major Crime Unit is still continuing an aggressive investigation into the double homicides on Veterans Drive that occurred in the early morning hours on June 15."
Though no motive has been established, all available leads are being pursued, according to the release.
Charlier and Roberts' bullet ridden bodies were found at 2:30 a.m. near the bus stop on Veterans Drive across from the Arturo Watlington Post Office, also known as the Frenchtown Post Office. They had arrived on St. Thomas only 14 hours earlier from New York City to attend a friend's wedding later in the week. Neither of the young men had ever been to St. Thomas before.
They checked into the Bunker Hill Guesthouse, bought toothpaste at a nearby grocery store, spent time at the Green House Restaurant and bought pizza at Gottlieb's Gas Station and 24-hour store not long before they were killed.
Though local Police alerted federal agencies that they might need help with the case, Police Commissioner Elton Lewis said last week that he didn't call in the FBI to assist with forensics.
"Don't think for one minute that if I needed their assistance, I wouldn't ask for it," Lewis said. "I am comfortable with the handling of the case."
Lewis said at that time the Police had ruled out robbery as a motive for the crime.
Sgt. Thomas Hannah, public information office for the VIPD, said Monday they were still picking up bits and pieces on the case. The posters were going to be placed at areas around St. Thomas where the men had gone including the grocery store, the Green House, and Gottliebs, Hannah said.
Police are urging anyone that may have been in the area of the post office between the hours of 1:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. to come forward or anonymously call any of the number provided below.
The release also said, "We are also asking friends and associates of the victims to bring information concerning this crime directly to the Virgin Islands Police Department investigators or their local police department."
Anyone with information should contact the Major Crime Unit of the Criminal Investigation Bureau at (340) 715-5546, or the Criminal Investigation Bureau at (340) 715-5522 or 715-5534. Information may also be provided via Emergency 911 or the Crime Hotline at (340) 777-8771. Any information provided will be held in strict confidence, the release said.
(Click on image to view full poster).
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