Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer

Portland:

The police in Portland have intensified their investigation into the murder of a 61-year-old supervisor, Stanley Peterson, whose body was discovered near the Hart Hill Cemetery in Buff Bay on Wednesday night.

The man's body was found with a wound to the side of the head and his vehicle was found a short distance away from where his body was discovered. At the time of his death, Mr. Peterson was employed to Pihl Construction Company, which is responsible for the construction of the Ocho Rios to Port Antonio leg of the north coast highway.

Commanding officer for the parish, Superintendent Carl Bowen, said Peterson was feared missing as early as Wednesday morning after his wife and a colleague tried in vain to contact him on his mobile phone, but were unsuccessful.

Gruesome discovery

"A report was later made regarding his disappearance," said the commanding officer. "It wasn't until Wednesday night that the gruesome discovery was made during a search."

Peterson, who was reported to be in the island for the past two years, is believed to be from the Tanzania, West Africa, region. He was residing with his family in the Hope Bay community of west Portland.

Residents are alleging that he was murdered because of an intimate relationship he had with a woman from the nearby community. It is further alleged that men from the area have expressed anger that foreigners have been stealing their women, and that it will no longer be tolerated.

However, the police are yet to establish a motive for the killing.

Peterson's is the first murder to have been committed in the parish since the start of the year.