Demare A. Encarnacion arrives in the U.S. Virgin Islands from the British Virgin Islands, escorted by law enforcement officers. Photo Credit: VIPD
ST. CROIX — Demare A. Encarnacion, a 32-year-old fugitive wanted for first-degree murder, has been extradited to St. Thomas after surrendering to authorities in the British Virgin Islands, the V.I. Police Department and U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) have confirmed. His return to the U.S. Virgin Islands was made possible through the coordinated efforts of the VIPD Marine Unit, the U.S. Marshals Florida Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force (FCRFTF), the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), and the British Virgin Islands Department of Immigration.
According to VIPD Director of Communications Glen Dratte, the case stems from a fatal shooting that occurred on October 13, 2024. The ShotSpotter Detection System alerted the 911 Emergency Call Center at approximately 3:03 a.m., detecting multiple gunshots fired on Kronprindsens Gade.
VIPD officers responded to the scene, where they discovered an unresponsive male victim with multiple gunshot wounds. Emergency Medical Technicians arrived shortly after but determined that the victim had no signs of life. He was later identified by next of kin as 59-year-old Cecil R. Scatliffe.
Demare A. Encarnacion in handcuffs
Following an investigation into the homicide, VIPD obtained an arrest warrant for Encarnacion on October 17, 2024, charging him with first-degree murder, use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, and possession of an unlicensed firearm within 1,000 feet of a school.
In December 2024, investigators from the Florida Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force received intelligence that Encarnacion was in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. Months later, on March 18, 2025, authorities confirmed that Encarnacion had voluntarily surrendered to BVI law enforcement.
With the assistance of the BVI Immigration Department, the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and VIPD Marine Unit traveled to Tortola to retrieve Encarnacion and transport him back to St. Thomas. Upon his return, he was officially arrested and charged with first-degree murder.
Acting U.S. Marshal for the District of the Virgin Islands, Kwesi Howard, reaffirmed the Marshals' dedication to capturing violent fugitives. "As the enforcement arm of the U.S. Courts, the U.S. Marshals’ commitment to partnerships with federal, local, and international law enforcement agencies to track down violent fugitives is unwavering," he stated. "Although we cannot arrest our way out of problems, we can help bring closure to families who are affected by crimes of violence."
The FCRFTF, which played a key role in the case, has been in operation since July 1, 2008, and consists of eight federal and 101 state and local law enforcement agencies. It operates within the southern, northern, and middle districts of Florida, as well as the U.S. Virgin Islands, focusing on apprehending fugitives wanted for violent crimes.
Encarnacion is currently being held on a $1,000,000 bail as he awaits legal proceedings. VIPD has not disclosed additional details regarding the motive or circumstances surrounding the homicide but has confirmed that the investigation remains ongoing.
