Officers investigate the scene where two deceased individuals were found in a burnt vehicle near the beach in the vicinity of the former Good Hope School in Frederiksted, St. Croix. Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM
ST. CROIX — The V.I. Police Department has confirmed the identities of two individuals whose remains were discovered last August in a torched vehicle near the former Good Hope School in Estate Whim.
The update comes after DNA results received from the FBI on March 25 conclusively identified the victims as Dion Ahmil Williams and Naleem Browne, both 20 years old at the time of their deaths. The VIPD said the families of both men have been notified.
The case dates back to the evening of Friday, August 23, 2024, when the VITEMA 911 Emergency Call Center received a report of a vehicle fire at approximately 5:09 p.m. Police and fire personnel responded to the scene, where they found a red Ford F150 engulfed in flames.
After the blaze was extinguished, responders made a grim discovery—two charred human bodies were located inside the burned vehicle. The VIPD’s Major Crimes Unit was immediately assigned to take over the investigation.
Following an assessment by the fire inspector, the cause of the blaze was ruled to be arson, the VIDP said. An autopsy later confirmed that the victims had been shot. The medical examiner concluded that both deaths were homicides caused by gunshot wounds.
To establish the identities of the victims, investigators collected DNA samples from the remains and submitted them to the FBI laboratory for analysis. The identification process took several months, culminating in the receipt of positive matches from the federal lab in late March.
The VIPD expressed its condolences to the families of Williams and Browne and reiterated its commitment to pursuing justice in the case.
The investigation remains active as law enforcement officials continue to seek information related to the murders.
