By KARL E CUPID Tobago Bureau Monday, September 21 2009

click on pic to zoom in

TRAGIC SCENE: Fire officers return from the scene of the tragic fire at Runnemede, where the bodies of Judith and Bevan Toby were discovered....

A middle-aged couple, believed to be from the United States, was murdered and their bodies burnt when fire completely destroyed their home located in a deserted forested area at Cuffie River, Runnemede, about six miles off the Northside Main Road, near Moriah Tobago.

The charred remains of Bevan and Judith Toby were discovered amidst the ruins of the modest home after the flames were extinguished. The incident occurred at about 11am yesterday.

When fire officers from the Scarborough Station responded the building was completely engulfed in flames and almost already destroyed. Police believe the victims were killed before the building was torched. The charred remains of the victims were found some distance from each other “in the middle of the floor” of the burnt out building, according to medical sources.

The house was situated in a far-flung area surrounded by lush green mountain sides, with development works in progress in an area near to the house. This immediate area is safely accessible only by four-wheel drive vehicles. The victims are reported to be followers of the Jehovah Witness faith who worshipped at the Jehovah Witness Kingdom Hall at Parlatuvier, about nine miles away. Several followers of the faith remained tight-lipped when they arrived on the scene. Bevan had reportedly returned from church a short time before the blaze erupted. According to reports, the incident could have stemmed from a land dispute. While reports indicated that the couple was from Moriah, several villagers insisted they were Afro-Americans.

Their remains were viewed by District Medical Officer Dr Mentor Melville who ordered removal to the Scarborough Hospital mortuary. A suspect, who was detained shortly after the incident, is said to be assisting police in their investigations.

This gruesome incident comes on the heels of the equally gruesome discovery of the bodies of two teenaged boys in the forested French Fort area overlooking the eastern outskirts of Scarborough on Saturday. One of the boys was immediately identified as Kelon Salandy, 16, a past student of Bishop’s High School (Tobago), of Patience Hill, while the other was subsequently identified yesterday as Rondell Thomas, 15, of Signal Hill, near Patience Hill.

Police believe the teens were killed elsewhere sometime on Friday night and their bodies dumped at French Fort. Police confirmed that several persons have since been detained for questioning in connection with the boys’ killing. Police investigations into both incidents are continuing.