CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Members of the Virgin Islands Police Department’s Marine Unit, partnering with the U.S. Marshals Service, captured a wanted St. Thomas fugitive in the British Virgin Islands yesterday.
Demare A. Encarnacion, 32, wanted in connections to the October 17, 2024 murder of 59-year-old Cecil R. Scatliffe, was taken into official custody by a joint fugitive task force, according to the VIPD.
The case began at 3:03 a.m. on October 13, 2024, when the 911 Emergency Call Center was alerted by the ShotSpotter system detected that multiple gunshots were fired on Kronprindsens Gade, police said.
VIPD mug shot of Demare A. Encarnacion. 32, of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Responding officers traveled to the area where the gunshots were detected and discovered an unresponsive male with multiple gunshots to his body, according to police.
Emergency Medical Technicians traveled to the scene and concluded that the male did not have any vital signs. He was identified by next of kin as Cecil R. Scatliffe, police said.
On October 17, 2024, an arrest warrant was issued for 32-year-old Demare A. Encarnacion for the murder of Mr. Scatliffe, according to police.
Demare A. Encarnacion. 32, as he was taken into official custody in Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
On March 18, 2025, members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force contacted the Virgin Islands Police Department and the US Marshals Fugitive Task Force, to advise that Demare A. Encarnacion had turned himself in to police in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, police said.
With the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force, the VIPD Marine Unit traveled to Road Town, Tortola and brought Encarnacion back to St. Thomas, according to police.
Encarnacion was arrested and charged with first-degree murder on Wednesday afternoon, VIPD spokeswoman Kishma Chichester said.
Bail set for Encarnacion was set at $1,000,000.00.
