Crime

Co-Defendant’s Killing Leads Judge to Declare Mistrial in St. Thomas Kidnapping Case

The Superior Court of the Virgin Islands has declared a mistrial in the kidnapping case involving Troy A. Harrigan after the fatal shooting of co-defendant Desie Conrad Henry Jr. during the trial. The ruling came after Harrigan’s defense filed an emergency motion arguing that Henry’s killing created circumstances that made it impossible for the empaneled jury to fairly deliberate. In an order dated March 6, Superior Court Judge Denise M. Francois granted the motion, concluding that the extraordinary circumstances surrounding Henry’s death left the court with no alternative but to end the trial and dismiss the jury. Henry was shot and killed at approximately 8:43 a.m. on March 5, 2026, before the jury received its final instructions and began deliberations in the case. The case had originally proceeded with two defendants — Harrigan and Henry — who were jointly charged in the matter and were both present during the jury selection process. Harrigan’s emergency motion argued that the...