Police in St Mary have released a man who was taken into custody, for questioning in relation to the gun slaying of senior guidance counsellor, Ena Murphy Barrette, of Oracabessa Primary School. Mrs Murphy-Barrette was found with gunshot wounds inside her yard on Thursday, September 4, about 9:30 p.m. She had just returned to her home in Galina, from church, and was closing her gate, when gunmen pounced. She was reportedly shot three times in the back and once in the head. One man, believed to be a relative of Mrs Murphy-Barrette was reportedly taken into custody for questioning hours after the murder.
However, that suspect has been released and police said they have no new leads. Commanding officer for the parish, Superintendent Dean Johnson, told the North Coast Times Monday afternoon that the suspect was released because there was not enough evidence to connect him to the crime. Supt Johnson said although there were no new leads, investigators would continue to actively probe the crime and were hoping for an early breakthrough.
Mrs Murphy-Barrette was the senior guidance counsellor at the Oracabessa Primary School where she taught for about four years before she was appointed guidance counsellor about 16 years ago. Her colleagues at school, and people who know the woman personally, described her as a very caring, kind and friendly Christian woman who did not deserve to be killed in that manner. Residents said before Mrs Murphy-Barrette’s demise two men were seek lurking in that section of Galina where the woman lived for about five years.
After the gun attack, the two men escaped on foot to a waiting motorcar which was parked along the main road a short distance away. Poliuce do not believe it was a robbery although Mrs Barrette’s phone and handbag were stolen.
