Pacific Cruiser Murder Saga

[Steadman Uhlich]

Posted today in Latitude 38:

Excerpt (more via the link with photo):

Latitude 38 - 'Lectronic Latitude

"Following a bizarre sequence of recent events, American cruiser Dean Jay Fletcher currently awaits extradition from American Samoa to Tonga, where he is accused of murdering his Canadian wife Patricia Linne Kearney.

Having set sail from Mazatlan for the South Pacific in late spring of 2015 aboard their vintage Rhodes Bounty 42 Sea Oak, the couple reportedly arrived in the Kingdom of Tonga in May of this year. On July 7, while the Canadian-flagged boat lay at anchor in Neiafu, the capital of Tonga's Vava'u archipelago, Fletcher reported the death of his wife to local authorities — although virtually no details on the nature of her death have been made public. A few days later, however, Fletcher was taken into custody and was charged with murder. No doubt this was very big news in the multi-island nation, as Tonga has one of the lowest murder rates in the world.

Somehow Fletcher managed to escape capture, get to his boat and sail away. According to multiple news sources, once his escape was discovered, Tongan Police Search and Rescue assets chased after him. Rather than surrender, however, Fletcher fired several rounds from his flare gun and allegedly threatened to ignite the pursuing patrol boats, which caused the officers aboard to give up the chase. "

[DDabs]

I like the photo of him taking a nap once they apprehend him.

[zeehag]

so if i am interested, i guess i can now use that slip in isla marina... cool.

weird and wild tale this sea oak misadventure.

[Celestialsailor]

A thought that came to mind is...why would he report the death of his wife if he supposedly murdered her. I'm sure most here have seen the series and later the movie "Fugitive". Could be he thought he was being framed by the authorities and fled.

[crabcake]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

Could be he thought he was being framed by the authorities and fled.

It happens all too often...

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by crabcake

It happens all too often...

Ya...I'm not sure but it could be a possible scenario. I'd rather have the evidence be looked at by a modern and well equipt agency.

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

A thought that came to mind is...why would he report the death of his wife if he supposedly murdered her. I'm sure most here have seen the series and later the movie "Fugitive". Could be he thought he was being framed by the authorities and fled.

i gather you missed the scott peterson trial, then.........among others.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

Ya...I'm not sure but it could be a possible scenario. I'd rather have the evidence be looked at by a modern and well equipt agency.

You won't find that in Neiafu. But then they don,'t have enough of a serious crime problem to need it.

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

A thought that came to mind is...why would he report the death of his wife if he supposedly murdered her. I'm sure most here have seen the series and later the movie "Fugitive". Could be he thought he was being framed by the authorities and fled.

Do you think it might have been the one-armed sailor?🤔

[crabcake]

Standards of evidence for prosecutions are much different in other countries than they are in MOST the US. So, you really can't compare.
One need only look at Amanda Knox for a horrible miscarriage of justice.

Think it can't happen here in the USA? Wrong.

• FBI Lab Found To Cook the Books and Lied in Court on DNA Testing
• Texas Tops All States in Wrongful Convictions
• Staggering Number of Wrongful Convictions by State

Fact is, if the police investigator or prosecutor has a "hunch" you are guilty, he has the power to put you in the pokey and YOU have to prove your innocence.

That doesn't mean you will be convicted (and obviously by the above articles, doesn't mean you won't either), it just means that "Innocent Until Proven Guilty" has long since be derailed.

This like many other principles this country was built on - have been tarnished or are just plain road kill.

[Celestialsailor]

Originally Posted by zeehag

i gather you missed the scott peterson trial, then.........among others.

Well...I live in a country where you are innocent until proven guilty.

[SV DestinyAscen]

In pretty much any judicial system - whether the trier of fact is a panel of judges or lay jury - running from the law never helps your case.

As for reporting her death - we don't really know how she died. Perhaps he had hoped it would seem like an accident. Most homicides are not committed by rational calculating people, it is why there are so few first degree murder convictions as opposed to lesser degree/manslaughter charges.

I think it is plainly obvious to anyone cruising that if someone aboard wish to do you ill, they can just get up while you're on watch - knock you over the head and throw you overboard and go back down for a "nap." Your companions probably won't even know better.

The Tongan authorities deserve some credit for keeping the details of her cause of death confidential.

[Paul L]

Neiafu is in the Kingdom of Tonga. It really is run as a Kingdom, with the King and his relatives with the power. Mostly benevolent.

. The Crown is alleging that Fletcher had beaten his wife to death.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

Well...I live in a country where you are innocent until proven guilty.

Mexico's cool innit..

[zeehag]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Mexico's cool innit..

sc must not live in mexico, then, as here you are guilty until proven innocent.

but yes i love i there. my check makes it thru to end of month --is magical.....