The Jamaica Constabulary Force has charged a St. James man with the murder of his wife, 35-year-old Melissa Kerry Samnath, weeks after she was found with multiple injuries and later pronounced dead at hospital.
The accused, Dane Watson, surrendered to police in St. Mary on Friday after reportedly going into hiding in the Gayle community following the incident.
According to police, Samnath, whose address was listed in New York in the United States, was taken to Cornwall Regional Hospital on April 29 by Watson. Investigators said he allegedly assisted her from a motor vehicle before leaving the medical facility shortly afterward.
Hospital personnel later alerted police after Samnath was pronounced dead.
A post-mortem examination conducted on May 6 determined that Samnath died from multiple blunt force trauma to the head.
Police said subsequent investigations led detectives to a premises in Norwood, St. James, where evidence relevant to the probe was recovered.
During the investigation, Watson was named a person of interest in the death of the US citizen. Authorities later alleged that he fled St. James and was hiding in St. Mary. Reports indicate that concerns about his safety prompted him to contact relatives, who coordinated with police in Gayle to arrange his surrender.
Detectives in St. Mary subsequently took Watson into custody before transferring him to St. James, where he was formally charged.
Investigators believe Samnath had travelled to Jamaica shortly before her death to celebrate her birthday. Police have not disclosed a motive in the case, and investigations remain ongoing.
