Man charged in coldcase rape
(CNS): A 33-year-old man has been charged with the rape of a female tourist to the Cayman Islands which took place in 2002. Christopher Omar Samuels appeared in court Thursday, 29 January, nearly seven years after the offence was committed. Acting Chief Superintendent Marlon Bodden said this was an example of the RCIPS determination to solve crimes despite time lines and the presentaiton of new evidence.
“This was a horrible attack on the victim which has left her traumatized for many years. This charge demonstrates the RCIPS Criminal Investigation Department’s investigative commitment to investigating unsolved sexual offences,” Bodden added. “We will continue to work in partnership with other law enforcement agencies to bring to justice those responsible for such crimes." He said that in this case new solvability factors presented themselves and CID activated the investigation. "Hence the results,” he said.
Speaking on Rooster’s crosstalk this morning, Acting Commissioner James Smith said this demonstrated that the police were working hard to solve all outstanding cases. He said not only would they keep all investigations open until every last possible avenue had been explored, they were periodically reviewing all cold cases as well. This rape, he said, was solved because of a DNA hit during a review.
Samuels will next appear in court on 3 February.
Anyone with information about crime taking place in the Cayman Islands should contact their local police station or Crime Stoppers on 800-8477 (TIPS). All persons calling crime stoppers remain anonymous, and are eligible for a reward of up to $1000, should their information lead to an arrest or recovery of property/drugs.
Category: Headline News
I am the victim of this crime. First I’d like to say to the person who has a great sympathy for Mr. Samuels that I do as well. I feel very sorry for him. It seems pathetic to seek a sex by breaking down a toilet stall door and putting a knife to the throat of a 48 year old woman. But there is also the possibility that he was seeking to find pleasure in inflicting pain and humiliation.. In this case I would have to say I truly despise him, and he deserves no sympathy from anyone but the devil himself.
I have an update. Mr. Samuels has plead guilty, and I have been informed that the sentencing date is June 26th. For the last seven years I have been trying to "feel normal", but am still fearful of leaving my home, especially at night. I also need an operation to repair internal ligaments that were torn in the attack. But at least I can now afford health care.
I used to be a "career woman", but lost my job, and eventually used up all my savings,etc. I got very ill. emotionally and physically, and couldn’t eat for days at times. Eventually even losing half my hair due to poor nutrition. In no particular order,,,I came down with PTSD, sleep apnea, melanoma, shingles, meningitis, fungal sinutis and sudden onset menopause. So if you think rape victims need to just "snap out of it", think again. Once a downward health spiral starts, you can feel overwhelmed. And if the rapist isn’t caught, the world feels so dangerous that you can lose all desire to thrive.
Well, it’s taken 7 years, but finally I feel the healing power of Justice, The news of the arrest made me more whole than any medicine or settlement could. I was overjoyed to hear from RCIPS that day. I cried and cried.
I now have great admiration for the perseverance and professionalism of the RCIPS major crimes division. They said they would never close this case until it was solved, and they were true to their word.
To the victim of this crime…i was amazed to see that you had responded to this site, and so sorry for what he did to you. I have a long history with your attacker, and when i heard that he had done this, before i even met him, i was shell shocked for weeks. On one hand i could see it in him, on the other hand my mind railed against the truth. he raped me too, when he first met me, but i was on drugs and getting the next high was more important than reporting it. especially when he returned over and over to my district with words of sorrow and money in his pocket. That was 6 years ago. I am clean now. what i cannot understand is that this man has 5 little girls, one of which i am the mother of. my daughter and i have sinceleft the country and moved to north america, and the most hateful part of this (other than what he did to you) is what he has done to these little girls. he was a good father, and up to last night (a year+) since the arrest, i have had to listen to my 6 year old cry herself to sleep and wail pitifully for "daddy, daddy, where are you?"…again, my deepest sympathies for you, and you have been, and will continue to be in my prayers.
Just to say, that i knew this man. You can see that he is the type. He was a smooth talker. We went for dinner once and he moved a little to fast for me, so i told him to back it up. Slow it down. Never dated him again. I had a bad feeling about him. I’m sorry to hear this happen to the lady. But unfortunate for his family, XXXXX
Here we go again bashing nationalities. It is rather unfortunate that this young man made such a "rash" decision, which will now alter the course of his life. I’m sure that he at one time was an outstanding member of the Caymanian society. Whatever possessed him to conduct himself in such a manner, only he can explain at this time.
My heartfelt sympathies go out to both parties involved, and even though this may be a "hard" pill to swallow, I trust that some lesson will be learnt through all this and "forgiveness" can be offered at the end of the day.
If the allegations are correct, a rape of a tourist at the hotel where you are employed is not a mere "rash decision"! Deciding to overtake in heavy traffic is a rash decision. Upstanding members of society don’t just ‘rashly decide’ to go out one day and ‘unfortunately’ rape somebody at their workplace. Why do you feel the need to minimise this disgusting and serious crime?! The consequences are serious for the victim, for the hotel and for the tourist industry in these Islands. Since your first comment had to do with nationalities does his nationality have something to do with your indulgent views?
What many of us fail to realize is that when an American Citizen has been raped in another country except there’s they will do what is necessary to scandalize that country for doing nothing. Remember the case with the young woman in Aruba (Natalie Holloway) it is still not solved and that country has suffered tremendously at the hands of the American media which tore them to shreds.
What is amazing is that it has taken this long for the RCIP to bring this person to justice, and only on the heels of the fact that the civil case against the Westin was won by the victim and a settlement was awarded.
So if you think that congratulating the RCIP for a job well done is going to keep this from springing up on Nancy Grace, or Dr. Phil etc. we better brace ourselves for the dominoe reaction this is going to bring.
My concern is that the RCIP only found the time to charge this person now why was that?
Seevn years is long time to have an alleged rapist on the loose…this, like Estella’s murder, really makes you realize how little we know about the people walking around us every day.
The Omar Samuels that was charged for all those other things is not the same as this man. If you could read then you would have noted that this man’s first name is Christopher. And it should be known that whenever any crime is committed by a foreigner that is the most highlighted part of the news report and it’s never left out. Most Caymanians are not highlighted in the same fashion.
"Whenever any crime is committed by a foreigner that is the most highlighted part of the news report and it’s never left out. Most Caymanians are not highlighted in the same fashion".
Er, I think the case in point disproves that (which was the original point). It was similar to the way those arrested for Estella’s murder was originally reported on CNS:
"A carpenter and a gardener have been charged with the murder of Estella Scott-Roberts. Larry Prinston Ricketts (25) and Kirkland Henry (27) both George Town residents appeared before Margaret Ramsey-Hale this morning and were remanded in custody".
After the issued was raised subsequent articles gave the information.
On the other hand, CNS reported: "Customs officers have seized a number of firearms along with ammunition and clips which were concealed behind the front door panels of a refrigerator being imported into the Cayman Islands from the US. As a result one Caymanian man has been arrested and charged for the importation of five firearms and ammunition as the investigaiton continues…The seizure and subsequent arrest of Caymanian Michael Ebanks
Your statement is simply false. Since you know the other Omar Samuels’ first name perhaps you can tell us his nationality as well.
I see in the Compass that the victim was compensated over $1 million by the Westin for their slack sercurity at the hotel. She was raped in the bathroom stall. Now that we are not immune from law suits I think that local companies will need to get their act together.
I see that we have paid out money to that judge also. Craig Brown is next. Levers will most likely get a few million also and who knows whoelse!
Good Job RCIPS.
Let´s hope that the 14 unsovled murders at last count, can be solved as well, to give some closure to the victims families and the Cayman Islands community.
On a similar note, One Rex Watler was arrested for robbery this week.
And yes you can say it, he is a Caymanian.
(See how stupid that sounds?)
You are right – that does sound stupid. Why did you write it then? Clearly, my point went over your head. When itcomes to being charged or convicted of crimes Caymanians are readily identified in the media as such but there is a reluctance on the part of some to report the nationality of non-Caymanians. The result is that you have some who go around suggesting that the only persons to commit serious crimes in Cayman are Caymanians.
Another job well done by RCIP!
ANOTHER STAR FOR THE POLICE
Gotcha!!!! Seven years, And who says the police aint doing a good job? Yes they are, and we need to give them credit for it.
YES!!!! , Acting, Commissioner, dig up all the old UNSOLVED MYSTERIES, Too much has been swept under the carpet for different reasons and none of them good. Stay blessed.
Well Done RCIPS.
One Omar Samuels was charged last year with Escaping Lawful Custody, Possession of unlicensed firearm, Possession of unlicensed firearm (ammunition), Possession of Ganja and Consumption of Ganja. Is he the same individual?
And yes you can say it, he is a Jamaican national.