US Virgin Islands: Husband and wife found dead in St. Croix home; police investigate apparent murder-suicide

US Virgin Islands: A husband and wife were discovered dead in their house in Estate St. John, St. Croix, on Saturday night, with the case being classified by the police as a homicide-suicide. The deceased were named by the Virgin Islands Police Department as 56-year-old Carmen Ferdinand, and her spouse 57-year-old Dennis Ferdinand.

A homicide-suicide (or a murder-suicide) refers to the tragic act in which an individual commits a premeditated murder or murders of others before taking their own life.

According to police, an emergency call was placed to the 911 Emergency Call Center at around 8:24 pm when a woman visited the house and found Carmen Ferdinand in an unresponsive condition. She then left the premises and contacted emergency services.

The officers responding to the scene found Carmen Ferdinand with injuries that seemed consistent with stab wounds.

Detectives from the VIPD Criminal Investigation Bureau later searched the residence and found Dennis Ferdinand in an unresponsive condition inside a bathroom. Investigators said that he appeared to have suffered a possible gunshot wound.

“During their examination of the residence, detectives located an unresponsive male in a bathroom. He appeared to have sustained a possible gunshot wound,” said the US Virgin Islands Police Department in an official press release.

According to the initial findings, the police suspect that the death might be due to a homicide-suicide. The authorities have not yet disclosed any information on the suspects or the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Criminal Investigation Bureau will continue a probe into their deaths. Police are asking the public with any relevant information to call 911 or report to the nearest police station. They can also contact the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 340-778-2211, or anonymously tip Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).