Tragedy struck the quiet community of Pyramid Heights in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, when the body of a 72-year-old returning resident, Luris Murray, was discovered in her home on Saturday morning, January 25.
Murray, who had returned to Jamaica after years of working in the United States as a nurse, was reportedly killed after criminals broke into her house, sexually assaulted her, and robbed her.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police Dwight Powell, head of the St. Ann Police, Murray’s body was found by her helper in the living room with an electric cord wrapped around her neck. Two vehicles belonging to the deceased were stolen but later recovered in different areas of Ocho Rios. The horrific crime is believed to have occurred sometime on Friday.
Murray had returned to Jamaica with hopes of enjoying a peaceful retirement, investing in farming, and raising chickens on her property. Her daughter, speaking with CVM TV, expressed deep anguish over the circumstances of her mother’s death.
“She had a genuine love for Jamaica and its people,” her daughter said, describing how her mother purchased a home and neighboring lots to fulfill her retirement dreams. “It’s just unbelievable that after working, leaving your country to search for the American dream, and finally achieving it, this is what happens when you come back to your own birthright country.”
The daughter added that the crime has left her and others in the diaspora wary about returning to Jamaica. “It makes somebody like me not want to return,” she said while cautioning those in the diaspora that they are “taking a risk by coming back” to Jamaica due to the crime rates.
Diaspora concerned about crime in Jamaica
Murray’s murder has reignited fears within the Jamaican diaspora about the safety of retiring on the island. Many retirees and returning residents have shared similar concerns about being targeted due to their perceived wealth after spending years abroad.
In 2022, Senior Superintendent Wayne Joseph, head of the Westmoreland Police, sought to reassure members of the diaspora that Jamaica remains safe for returning residents. He argued that victims of crime are often targeted by individuals within their inner circles. However, these assurances are at odds with longstanding warnings from the Jamaica Association for the Resettlement of Returning Residents.
The organization’s president, Percival LaTouche, has been vocal in discouraging retirees from returning. “Jamaica has become a fertile place to commit murder,” he said in prior years, emphasizing the risks faced by those who come back to settle.
While the government has implemented measures to address crime, incidents like this highlight the challenges in ensuring the safety of returning nationals.
The tragedy of Luris Murray underscores the tough realities facing Jamaicans abroad who dream of returning to their homeland. For many, the risk of becoming a victim of crime outweighs the hope of retiring in peace.
The investigation into Murray’s murder is ongoing, and the St. Ann Police are urging anyone with information to come forward.
