Crime

Details Emerge on Incident Leading to Death of 70-Year-Old Man; Suspect Must Post $100,000 Bail in Cash to be Released

ST. CROIX — A man accused of murdering his uncle will be permitted to post 10 percent of his $1 million bail in cash.  Nesto Monell was extradited to St. Croix earlier this week to face charges stemming from the death of his uncle Abraham Ortiz in January of 2021. According to Monell’s arrest warrant, the two were reportedly involved in an altercation on September 14th, 2020, the same night police discovered Ortiz unconscious outside his home. Police say they also discovered Monell with a machete in his hands and blood stains on his clothing that same night. He reportedly told police that earlier in the day Ortiz had stopped at his residence and pulled out a machete which Monell took from him. According to Monell, the blood on his clothing was as a result of a cut he sustained on his hand while trying to take the weapon from his uncle. He further told police that his uncle was acting crazy and continually causing disturbances. When police questioned Monell about his uncle’s whereabou...