February01, 2021 – Detectives from the Major Investigation Division probing a 12-year cold case investigation have made a major breakthrough in the 2009 murder of 50-year-old Merlene McDonald otherwise called ‘Petal’ at her home on Boundbrook Avenue in Portland.
Her husband, Everton McDonald otherwise called ‘Beachy Stout’, was charged with her death on Monday, February 01.
Reports are that about 10:00 p.m., McDonald was shot in her driveway after she parked her car. Family members later found and transported her to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Investigations were launched into this murder; however, the trail went cold.
On Monday, July 20, 2020, 32-year-old Tonia Hamilton-McDonald, otherwise called ‘Sassy’, a businesswoman of Dolphin Court, Dolphin Bay in Portland, was found dead about 8:20 p.m., with her throat slashed in her burnt out Toyota Axio motorcar that was engulfed in flames.
Reports from the San San Police are that about 8:20 p.m., residents saw the motorcar on fire and alerted them. The Port Antonio Fire Department was contacted and conducted cooling down operations; the scene was processed, the body found inside the vehicle and was removed to the morgue.
Both women were the first and second wife of 65-year-old Everton McDonald, otherwise called ‘Beachy Stout’ or ‘Mr. Mack’, businessman of Dolphin Court, Port Antonio, Portland.
Following the death of Tonia, Everton McDonald was charged with Conspiracy to Murder while 30-year-old Astor Barnes otherwise called ‘Tiny’ of Epsom district, Annotto Bay, St. Mary and 56-year-old Denvalyn Minott, otherwise called ‘Bubble’, a fisherman of Ranch Hill, Portland were charged with Murder and Conspiracy to Murder.
The Major Investigation Division thereafter launched a probe into the death of McDonald’s first wife. Several pieces of evidence were revisited which linked Everton McDonald to the 2009 murder. A file was prepared and submitted to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution where a ruling was delivered for Mr. McDonald to be charged with Murder and Conspiracy to Murder.
The Police are urging anyone with information to contact the Major Investigation Division at 876-906-5848, Police 119 emergency number or the nearest police station.
