Returning resident fatally stabbed outside home in Trelawny
Key Points(5)
- and alerted authorities.
- He was a stalwart in the community,” said one resident who asked not to be named.
- “All the street signs were made from Blanchard’s commitment.
- He would drive around and fix the potholes.
- “We want to come back and contribute to our communities, just like Mr.
The quiet community of Retreat was jolted awake Thursday morning after a returning resident, 60-year-old Simon Blanchard, was found stabbed to death just outside his gate.
According to police reports, a neighbour stumbled upon Blanchard’s body lying in a pool of blood around 5:00 a.m. and alerted authorities. Investigators have not yet established a motive for the killing.
Blanchard, described by residents as a generous and hands-on community member, had been deeply involved in local development efforts.
“We are shocked and saddened. He was a stalwart in the community,” said one resident who asked not to be named. “All the street signs were made from Blanchard’s commitment. He would drive around and fix the potholes. He will surely be missed.”
Superintendent Ainsley McCarthy, head of the Trelawny Police Division, confirmed that Blanchard’s death is the seventh recorded homicide in the parish since the start of 2025.
His murder has raised renewed concerns about the safety of returning residents.
“This is heartbreaking,” said Carol Thompson, a Jamaican living in Florida who had been planning to move back home later this year. “We want to come back and contribute to our communities, just like Mr. Blanchard did. But things like this make you pause. Safety has to be a priority.”
In a similar case last year, another returning Jamaican was killed at her home in Ocho Rios.
Back in 2022, Senior Superintendent Wayne Joseph, head of the Westmoreland Police, had moved to reassure members of the diaspora, stating that Jamaica remains safe for returning residents and that victims are often targeted by individuals they know personally.
