Beachy Stout: First wife knew hit was taken out on her; Residents still sad years after murder stains Portland

Everton 'Beachy Stout' McDonald’s first wife, Marlene ‘Petal’ McDonald, was murdered on May 2, 2009, a day her friends and neighbours in Boundbrook, Portland, will never forget.

One of her friends of many years told The Gleaner in 2021, during a special investigation, that Marlene, who was loved by many, should not have been killed in a manner that stained the community for several years.

The matter languished for years before her husband, who had remarried, was charged, more than 12 years later.

Marlene was reportedly shot in the head in her driveway on Boundbrook Crescent as she made her way to open the gate.

Gleaner sources say that Beachy Stout was the driver of the getaway vehicle.

Marlene’s friend, who will remain anonymous out of fear of speaking publicly, said they should not have killed ‘Petal’, as she was affectionately called.

“Petal would turn him (Beachy) into garbage can, enuh. She and him went to court and she could take away everything,” the friend said.

The residents remembered her funeral day and said she got a good send-off.

She was buried in the Prospect cemetery in the parish.

“I went to the funeral and the burial. I remembered she was buried way up in the corner. Dem shouldn’t kill her ... . Just as she a go ina the gate the man fire the shot and kill her,” a male resident told The Gleaner, adding that a large crowd had gathered at the scene.

Petal was killed some two years after she moved out of the marital home she shared with McDonald, The Gleaner was told.

The residents say they were observant as the community is close knit.

One told our news team: “The gentleman never lived down here. A just the wife and the son and grandchildren ... . At the time (of the murder) they didn’t even have any security camera or dem would see right away.”

A former employee of Petal's recalled that she was in great a hurry to leave the business place on the night of her death.

The former employee recalled how “Mrs Mac” threw away the day's sales mistakenly, trying to close up the establishment.

The police laid charges against McDonald after reviewing the case, bringing forth, according to the prosecution, a caution statement from a nephew of Beachy Stout's, who is now deceased.

For some residents, who spoke to The Gleaner in 2021, it is better late than never for someone to be brought to justice.

Some are still not open to speaking out of fear of McDonald’s “influence”.

“Da part deh now, me couldn’t did go inna da part deh (how she was killed). I only know weh she bury,” the woman said.

The residents are keen to acknowledge that McDonald is wealthy and say that he usually brags about his "strength" so they "tread carefully".

“As far as him say out him own mouth, him just pay fi get it done and him nuh business a who as long as it happen,” a resident told The Gleaner.

Since then, the names of two former policemen have been floating in the public domain, one of whom, prosecutors say, collected a fee.

The Gleaner did not get from official sources that the men were currently being investigated for any role or involvement.

A resident said: “Is about three people get contracted to carry out the hit before it was actually done. Money was paid and never returned, but that didn’t stop the plan.”

A close friend of the family told The Gleaner that Petal was told that a hit had been taken out on her.

“One of the men who was paid in the first instant to do it told her about it. She knew very well,” the source told The Gleaner.

The news team gathered that Petal was killed, allegedly, over property she had acquired.

"The talk was that she couldn’t satisfy 'cause she get some properties, and dem kill her for it,” the resident said of widely touted reasons.

The residents are convinced that it was Petal who put Beachy on the path to real fortune as she had a business mentality.

“Petal mother did have a change, enuh. Right now if you go to William Street weh Beachy Stout two building dem is, the building in the middle, the little bar, a Petal mother place that,” the friend told The Gleaner of where things began for her family.

The Gleaner understands as well that Petal rose to heights from humble beginnings as a little Portland girl.

A resident said: “Me know Petal when Petal heel back crack. A nuh joke. Me know when her slippers have in toe and ya suh (heel) eat out ... . She and Beachy a come from school days.”

andre.williams@gleanerjm.com