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Shock murder confession - Man walks into police station, admits to 2017 killing of woman

Published:Wednesday | July 15, 2020 | 12:25 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
Utelene Dawn Nugent
Utelene Dawn Nugent

It took a confessed murderer 1,181 days before admitting to the role he played in the brutal stabbing death of a woman three years ago at her home in Stock Farm, St Andrew.

Detectives had reportedly not made much ground in their probe of the killing of Utelene Dawn Nugent until Sunday when the investigation was thrown a lifeline.

The new development is welcome news to the police and persons who knew Nugent well.

The 56-year-old was killed on the night of April 11, 2017.

The Gleaner gathers that it was the new-found faith of the alleged killer that moved him to walk on his own volition into the Stony Hill Police Station and confess.

Police reports established that sometime after 8 p.m., residents of the Stock Farm community heard screams coming from Nugent’s house.

Law enforcers were alerted and they found Nugent’s body lying in a pool of blood with multiple stab wounds.

Nugent reportedly left behind two children, a son and a daughter.

The Gleaner understands that on Sunday, the now 25-year-old suspect, who is of a Pinto, St Andrew, address, turned himself in to the police.

He remains in the custody of the St Andrew North police.

A member of the Immaculate Conception Parish and Missions Church where Nugent worshipped for years said the new development came as a surprise.

“I am glad God spoke to him and the police can now probe the new information and do what they have to do. ... She was a God-fearing woman and people loved her,” the member, who requested anonymity, said.

NEW DEVELOPMENT

Another member of the church expressed relief that the police could finally “close the gap”.

A senior officer with knowledge of the investigation told The Gleaner that the police welcomed the new development.

“It appears he couldn’t hold it any longer. He said he changed his life, turned a Christian, and had things to clear up,” said the cop, whose identity is being withheld because he is not authorised to speak publicly about investigations.

The official police communications arm confirmed that a man turned himself in in relation to the murder and remained in custody.

Formal charges are to be laid and a court date is to be arranged shortly.

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com