Man Charged After Reported Sexual Assault at Estate La Reine McDonald’s

A man was arrested and charged after a woman reported she was sexually assaulted inside a McDonald’s restaurant in Estate La Reine, St. Croix, according to the Virgin Islands Police Department. Police said a female victim reported on June 2 that Neil Durrant sexually assaulted her at about 1:38 p.m. at the restaurant. The case was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Bureau, whose investigation identified Durrant as the suspect, according to the police report. On June 3, investigators made contact with Durrant and transported him to the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Station, where he was advised of his Miranda rights, police said. Durrant was arrested and charged with first-degree unlawful sexual contact and simple assault and battery. Bail was set at $35,000. Unable to post bail, he was transported to the John Bell Correctional Facility pending his advice of rights hearing, according to the police report.

Woman Arrested After Coki Point Assault Leaves Victim With Facial Injuries

A woman was arrested after police said she slashed another woman in the face during an altercation at Coki Point Beach on St. Thomas, according to the Virgin Islands Police Department. Officers responded to Coki Point Beach at approximately 2:31 p.m. on May 31 after receiving a report that a woman had been stabbed or slashed in the face during a confrontation, according to a VIPD news release. Police said detectives made contact with the victim on June 1, and the victim positively identified Kamaitawene Aijoma as the suspect. Aijoma was subsequently interviewed and arrested. Aijoma was charged with third-degree assault and simple assault. Bail was set at $25,000, according to the police report. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact 911, the Investigation Bureau at 340-774-2211 extensions 5553, 5554, 5555 or 5556, Crime Stoppers V.I. at 800-222-TIPS (8477), the Chief’s Office at 340-715-5546 or the Commissioner’s Office at 340-715-5506, according to VIPD.

Two Dead, Two Injured in Shooting at Peter’s Rest Bar

Two men were killed and two other people were injured in a shooting early Sunday morning at Luna Bar in Peter’s Rest on St. Croix, the Virgin Islands Police Department reported. Police said the 911 Emergency Call Center received reports of a shooting with possible gunshot victims at approximately 3:45 a.m. Sunday. According to a VIPD police report, a preliminary investigation found that a verbal altercation led to the shooting. The incident left 31-year-old Wahili James and 34-year-old Samuel Rivera dead. Both men were identified by family members. Two other victims, a minor and a 30-year-old man, sustained gunshot wounds and were reported to be in stable condition, police said. James and Rivera’s deaths mark the eighth and ninth homicides on St. Croix and the 15th and 16th for the territory, according to the Source Homicide List.* The investigation remains active. The Criminal Investigation Bureau is asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact 911, the bureau at 340-778-2211, or Crime Stoppers USVI at 800-222-8477. *The Source Homicide List is a chronological log of the homicides recorded in 2026 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, as reported by the VIPD. Cases are broken down by island. While this listing is based on VIPD reports, the Source does not include suicides or vehicular homicides in its listing, which the police and some other media do. This can lead to a discrepancy in the number of incidents reported.

Ana Elsa Osorio Benitez Dies at 89

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Ana Elsa Osorio Benitez, of C’sted, St. Croix, passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2026. She was 89 years old.
Ana Elsa Osorio Benitez
She is preceded in death by her mother, Maria Christina Benitez; father, Sotero Osorio; grandparents, Julia Ayala Rosa and Anastacio Benitez; sister, Lydia Osorio; brothers, Julio Ramon Osorio, Victor Manuel Osorio, and Angel Ramon Osorio; nieces, Sandra, Sonia, Gladys, and Judy; nephew, Luis Angel Osorio; aunts, Juanita “Jenny”, Benita, Isidra “Chira”, and Selina; uncles, Ernesto, Richard, and Saturino; cousins, Luz “Cookie” Serrano (Best Friend), Elsie Ortiz, Luz “Lucy” Calderon, Milagros “Millie” Cepeda, and Carlos “Charlie” Calderon.              She is survived by her son, Angel “Rafie” Rodriquez; daughter-in-law, Maria Morales; sister-in-law, Josefina Serrano Osorio; sisters, Ana Ilda Osorio, and Juana Maria Osorio; brother, Angel Iran Osorio; nieces, Maria Christina, Luisa, Ruth, Chrissy, Mercedes, and Punchy; nephews, Milton, Richie, and Willie; great niece, Krizia; great-nephews, Omar, Carlito, Max, Xavier, Chris, Daniel, William, Eddie, and Orlando; special friends, Chikita, Carpio, James, Dinorah, Wanda, Biboy, Eulogio, Rosa Frias, and Maria Lourdes Santiago; cousins & other relatives, Maggie, Alba, Juliana, Nerieda, Sally, Gigi, Ramon, Lizza “Nicky”, Cherise “Shanty”, Carla Calderon, Marie Elsie Calderon, Carlos Calderon, III, Carlos “Landy” Calderon, Sr., Evalise Calderon, Carlos “Orlandito” Calderon, Ernst “Cuso” Schuster, Jr. (Elaine “Pinky” Schuster), Eusebio “Chebby” Cepeda, Orlando “Bundy” Ortiz, and Florencio “Cito” Ortiz (Franchesca “Frannie” Ortiz); other cousins, relatives and friends too numerous to mention.        Memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 20th at the James Memorial Funeral Home Chapel, located at 6AA Estate La Grande Princess, Christiansted St. Croix, USVI at 10:00 am. Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Schuster’s Crematorium, LLC.

Traffic Alert in Bovoni and Post Office Area Monday-Wednesday

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Monday and Tuesday from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the Department of Public Works conducts road repairs along a portion of Benburin “Benny” Stephens Drive in the Bovoni area of St. Thomas. DPW contractor – Grace Civil LLC — has previously completed several segments of the Bovoni roadway and will return to the area adjacent to the Puma Gas Station to complete the remaining section of the project. To minimize disruptions for motorists and residents, construction activities will take place overnight from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. each day. Motorists should expect delays, exercise caution, obey all traffic control devices, and follow directions from flaggers and construction personnel. Residents and commuters are encouraged to plan accordingly and allow additional travel time.
(Submitted photo)
Also, Monday through Wednesday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. the Post Office Beautification Project in the Historic Downtown Charlotte Amalie could slow traffic. DPW contractor — Island Designs LLC. — will mobilize on-site beginning with a temporary refrigerated container that will be stored on the eastern side of Emancipation Garden for the delivery and offloading of project materials. The refrigerated container is expected to remain on-site through Wednesday. Landscaping activities will take place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and the project is scheduled to be completed by August 2026. The Post Office Beautification Project is part of the Department’s ongoing efforts to enhance the appearance of public spaces and create a more welcoming and aesthetically pleasing environment for residents and visitors.  

Weekly Weather Forecast With Jesse Daley

Check out our weekly weather forecast with Jesse Daley, covering Sunday, June 7, through Saturday, June 13. Please stay safe and follow the Source for more weather updates!

Creditors Seek to Prevent McClafferty from Discharging Debt in Bankruptcy

An ad hoc group of creditors in Brett “Mac” McClafferty’s bankruptcy proceedings is seeking a 60-day extension to file a “nondischargeability action” against him because he continues to evade requests for information and acts with “utter disregard for his duties as a chapter 13 debtor and general disrespect for the bankruptcy process,” according to a motion filed Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware.

The group — called the “McClafferty Victims” in their filings and “Voluntary Lenders” by McClafferty — comprises some 17 individuals or closely held micro businesses that gave him money on behalf of his now defunct Mac Private Equity for investment purposes. In return, he gave them a promissory note to repay the money, according to court documents. Each of them has a lawsuit pending against McClafferty, and two have been awarded judgments in Virgin Islands courts, one for $45,000 and another for $110,000, the motion states.

Their claims are subject to exception from discharge, it says, adding that none of them possesses great wealth and they “have all suffered financial harm at the hands of Mr. McClafferty’s fraudulent schemes.”

Mac Private Equity — which was 100 percent owned by McClafferty, who is also co-owner of St. Thomas Social, a restaurant and bar in Yacht Haven Grande on St. Thomas — filed for relief under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code on March 4, 2025. On Nov. 7, McClafferty filed for relief under Chapter 13, which his creditors allege was to avoid further collections processes in the Virgin Islands.

After William F. Jaworski Jr., the Chapter 13 trustee, filed an amended motion March 17 to dismiss the case because McClafferty’s debts “in excess of $3,618,000” significantly exceed the thresholds set forth under section 13079(c) of the Bankruptcy Code, the Mac Private Equity creditors filed a motion to convert the case to Chapter 7, rather than dismiss it.

According to Jaworski’s amended motion, McClafferty’s conduct, “characterized by the failure to list all assets, concealment of income, the maintenance of a lavish lifestyle, and the funding of personal political ambitions while in bankruptcy falls far short of the ‘honest debtor’ standard. Such conduct warrants immediate dismissal.”

Jaworski noted that McClafferty did not accurately disclose his continuing stream of income from Social Hospitality Group, which owns St. Thomas Social, “has engaged in significant post-petition discretionary spending that is neither reasonable nor necessary for his support or maintenance,” and according to the Delaware Department of Justice, his proposed plan cannot be confirmed because he failed to file state tax returns for 2021 through 2024.

According to their motion, despite “diligent effort and investigation, the McClafferty Victims have been unable to find any evidence that Mr. McClafferty filed personal income tax returns for 2021–2024 in any jurisdiction.”

Meanwhile, George L. Miller, the trustee in the Chapter 7 petition for Mac Private Equity, filed a status report in March claiming McClafferty “was not able to adequately answer questions of the Trustee, counsel or creditors” at a meeting in October or in subsequent meetings. Miller reported that as far as he can tell, “None of the records obtained to date demonstrate anything other than Mr. McClafferty using corporate funds for personal expenses.”

McClafferty, who is running for delegate to Congress while also facing felony bank fraud charges in V.I. Superior Court on St. Thomas, with a current jury selection date of Nov. 3 — the same day as the General Election in which he is a candidate — has denied wrongdoing and has objected to Jaworski’s motions to dismiss the Chapter 13 petition.

He states, among other things, that none of the victims’ claims has been liquidated in the courts of the Virgin Islands and he intends to file objections to each of them. Regarding the proof of claim of $3,168,000, McClafferty said that because it and the alleged victims’ claims are “disputed, unliquidated, and based upon unajudicated allegations of liability, and because no court has determined that the Debtor is personally liable for any of these obligations, these claims cannot properly be counted toward the Debtor’s eligibility limits under 11 U.S.C. § 109(e) at this time.”

He was more blunt in his summation in a Facebook post in April. “We had no obligation to ‘invest’ anything lol. That’s the part you’re missing,” he posted on What’s Going on St. Thomas about the Mac Private Equity case. “Not a single one of our lending agreements obligated us to ‘invest’ anything. MPE was a startup PE [Private Equity] firm operating on a burn rate. It collapsed before it could take off. It’s a shame — but that’s life on the Serengeti; you win some, ya lose some,” he said, concluding the post with a shrug emoji.

In their motion for an order to convert the case to Chapter 7, his alleged victims claim that McClafferty has treated them and his other creditors “atrociously before and during this Case. He has lied under oath, used the territorial and federal courts of the Virgin Islands — and now the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware — to play games, delay and hinder the McClafferty Victims’ recoveries.”

According to that motion, his outright disregard for his duties as a bankruptcy debtor “can only be seen as willful and malicious,” having stymied a meeting between himself and the creditors, known as a 341 meeting, and timed “to avoid further collections processes in the Virgin Islands.”

In their filing Thursday, they said nothing has changed since their first motion to extend and that since their last contact with Jaworski on May 28, McClafferty still has not provided his tax returns and “clearly has no intent to comply with the requirements of being a chapter 13 debtor.”

It would be a pointless and expensive waste of time for them to fight for a court order to force production of required information, they said, because he “will predictably ignore” it, then they will come back to the Court with more motions seeking sanctions and another order, “which Mr. McClafferty will predictably ignore.”

Judge Brendan Linehan Shannon, who is presiding over both the Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 cases, had not ruled on the creditors’ motion as of Saturday.

STX Pride Parade Fills Christiansted with Color

A Pride flag flies over King Street during the seventh annual St. Croix Pride parade Saturday in Christiansted. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)

For the seventh year, St. Croix’s small but mighty Pride parade brought the community’s LGBTQIA community and allies together for a celebration of love and solidarity in Christiansted.

The seventh annual St. Croix Pride parade heads up King Street Saturday morning in Christiansted. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)

The parade made its way up King Street at around 11 a.m. with a colorful column that included Cruzan Cowgirls on horseback as well as groups from Good Hope Country Day School, businesses like Umami Sushi, and CMCArts. Umami’s Heather Reedy, who was born and raised on the island, said that she was proud to attend Saturday’s parade with her coworkers.

Heather Reedy represents St. Croix sushi staple Umami during the 2026 Pride parade Saturday morning in Christiansted. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)

“We always put a little flag up for June and everything, but this is something that’s really true to all of our hearts — whether you’re part of the community or not,” she said. “We all support the community.”

Shawna Richards watches the 2026 St. Croix Pride parade while holding a sign she made for the island’s first Pride parade in 2018. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)

St. Croix’s first Pride parade, which swept through Frederiksted in 2018, was marred somewhat by expressions of intolerance on social media and during the parade itself. On Saturday, attendees credited the V.I. Police Department for their support in ensuring a safe, welcoming event.

“I’m just happy that it’s a safe space to do it in,” Reedy said. “And I wish it would grow even more.”

The 2026 St. Croix Pride parade makes its way past the Florence Augusta Williams Public Library Saturday morning in Christiansted. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)

While Saturday’s parade was smaller than in previous years, St. Croix Pride president Imani Evans said a core group of attendees and supporters always turn out and have a good time.

“One of the big things right now is we’re always looking for more board members and more volunteers,” she said, adding that events are volunteer-based. “So we’re always looking for people who want to come and be a part of it.”

From left, the St. Croix Animal Welfare Center’s Sharyn Pittman introduces Coconut to parade-goers during the seventh annual St. Croix Pride parade Saturday morning in Christiansted. (Source photo by Kit MacAvoy)

Pride Month started early on the Big Island. On May 28, CMCArts hosted an opening reception for “Conversations on Pride,” an exhibition celebrating freedom of expression and the territory’s LGBTQIA community. That was followed by an inaugural Pride rave party at Shupe’s on the Boardwalk on May 30 and bingo at Sion Farm Distillery on June 2. On Wednesday, Common Cents Pub hosted “Rainbow Karaoke.”

Evans said upcoming events include a “Flower Power” brunch at Sion Farm Distillery from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, a movie night at Blues Backyard BBQ from 6-10 p.m. Thursday, a “Rainbow Recharge” day at Island Movement on June 13, and a bar crawl from 1-8 p.m. on June 14 in Frederiksted. St. Croix Pride is planning to put a bow on the month of celebration with a closing beach party and drag show at Sandcastle on the Beach on June 20.

Board of Elections Review of Candidate Appeals Halted by Loss of Quorum

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On Friday, the Virgin Islands Board of Elections was forced to suspend its review of candidate appeals and qualification challenges after losing its quorum, delaying decisions on several matters involving candidates seeking office in the 2026 election cycle.

During the meeting, board members reviewed appeals and eligibility issues involving candidates for various offices, including delegate to Congress, governor and the Legislature. Discussions centered on whether certain candidates met statutory filing requirements and whether those challenging disqualification decisions should be granted hearings before the board.

The continued review of candidate appeals comes just days after the Board of Elections voted to maintain a single ballot for federal and territorial contests in the 2026 election cycle. That meeting was also marked by discussions over candidate eligibility, residency requirements, ballot access and election procedures, underscoring the growing number of election-related challenges facing officials ahead of the November election.

Those issues remained at the forefront as board members reviewed appeals and correspondence from candidates seeking offices. Members debated statutory filing requirements, notification procedures and whether candidates challenging disqualification decisions should be granted hearings before the board prior to any final determination.

One of the appeals discussed involved Delegate to Congress candidate James Weber, whose nomination papers were disqualified after election officials determined they had not been filed in accordance with statutory requirements. Supervisor of Elections Caroline Fawkes told the board that Virgin Islands law requires nomination papers to be filed with the Supervisor of Elections in the district where the candidate resides. Some members agreed the law was clear, while others questioned whether candidates should be given additional opportunities to correct filing issues or present their cases before the board.

Board member Harriet Mercer argued that candidates requesting hearings before the board should be given the opportunity to appear in person before a quorum of members prior to any final determination being made. Mercer cited Weber’s appeal letter, which requested “a hearing in person of the quorum of the members of the Board of Elections.”

Before the board could conclude its review of the pending appeals, however, members were informed that a quorum was no longer present.

“We don’t have a quorum, so we cannot proceed,” Chair Raymond Williams announced, bringing the proceedings to a halt.

The board subsequently recessed the meeting and agreed to reconvene on Monday at 10 a.m. to continue reviewing unresolved candidate matters. Because of the loss of quorum, no final action was taken on several appeals and qualification challenges that remained before the board.

The delayed decisions come as election officials continue preparations for the 2026 election cycle and work through a growing number of candidate disputes, procedural questions and election-related challenges ahead of the upcoming election.

Chocolate Hole Fix Imminent, Sewer Officials Say

Wastewater has bubbled from St. John manholes for years, as shown in this 2024 photo. (Source file photo)
As St. Thomas and St. John recover from last weekend’s blackout, work crews across the territory were scrambling to avert another infrastructure disaster. The Virgin Islands’ sewer pipes are in dire condition, officials said Friday. Many of the pipes and other critical sewer system equipment were long past their replacement date and deteriorating fast, officials at the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority said. But there was good news. VIWMA crews hoped to have St. John’s Power Boyd Pump Station issues resolved by Saturday, potentially ending unsanitary conditions in Estate Chocolate Hole. The station has had problems going back at least a decade. Next on the list would be the long-troubled Cancryn area of St. Thomas, which could be free of unpleasant odors by the end of the weekend, VIWMA said in a written statement. “Once completed, these repairs are expected to significantly improve system performance and alleviate unpleasant odors, wastewater backups, and other nuisances that have affected surrounding neighborhoods and businesses. This work represents a crucial step toward improving service reliability and quality of life for residents in the affected areas,” the statement said. While the sight and smell of sewage bubbling up from manholes may be troubling, it’s actually by design. Pedrito Francois, who was instrumental in concocting the sewer systems throughout the territory in 1972, told the Source in 2004 that he wanted failures to be evident. Repairs wouldn’t be made unless everyone knew the system had failed, he said. Nearly 55 years after Francois designed the sewage systems, its working parts are collapsing, VIWMA officials said. “Our sewer collection system has exceeded its intended service life in many locations, resulting in sudden line failures, collapses, and blockages that require immediate attention,” the officials said. “Crews continue to be deployed daily, prioritizing repairs that pose the greatest risk to public health, safety, and the environment. With multiple issues occurring simultaneously, resources are being strategically allocated to ensure that the most critical situations are addressed first.” Long-term plans for fixing the problem were already in motion, according to the statement. “Contracts are in place for a comprehensive, territory-wide replacement of aging sewer infrastructure. This major investment will begin in the coming months and represents a permanent, forward-looking solution to the very problems we are confronting today,” the authority said. VIWMA officials warned in April, however, that large-scale, territory-wide repairs could take many years and require federal assistance.