Police investigating murder that occurred in Frederiksted on Wednesday
CHRISTIANSTED — A St. Croix couple went from lovebirds to jailbirds after a court-ordered police search of their East Street home turned up a loaded gun during a murder investigation.
Deseree Maria Rodriquez, 52, and Renaldo Lewis Santos, 42, were arrested and charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
During the execution of a telephonic warrant at 4:21 p.m. Thursday in reference to the investigation of a homicide that occurred on Wednesday in Frederiksted, St. Croix members of the Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Special Operation Bureau K-9 Unit traveled to #17 East Street, Christiansted, St. Croix where the premises was secured and subsequently the telephonic warrant was executed, according to the VIPD.
During the search of #17 East Street a loaded firearm was recovered and secured for further investigation, police said.
Rodriguez and Santos each resided in the dwelling, but denied knowing anything about the firearm found in their home, according to police.
The search warrant was signed by the Judge Jessica Gallivan of the Virgin Islands Superior
Court.
Bail for Rodriguez and Santos was set at $50,000.00. Unable to post bail, they were each transported to the John Bell Correctional Adult Correctional Facility pending their advice-of-rights hearings.