Daryl Jean-Baptiste guilty of involuntary manslaughter for fatal crash in Sion Farm

KINGSHILL — Daryl Jean-Baptiste, 26, has been found guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter in connection
with a 2019 fatal car crash, the Virgin Islands Department of Justice said today.

The verdict followed a three-day trial, which concluded on July 23,, 2025, before Superior Court Judge Yvette Ross Edwards, according to the VIDOJ.

Jean-Baptiste was charged in connection with the death of 24-year-old Davindra Ramsundar Jr.
following a vehicle collision in Sion Farm on November 3, 2019.

While the jury acquitted him of Negligent Homicide by Means of a Motor Vehicle, they unanimously found him guilty of Involuntary Manslaughter. He now faces a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment.
Sentencing is scheduled to occur at a later date to be determined by the Court.

V.I. Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea issued a statement following the verdict: “This verdict reflects our continued commitment to securing justice for victims and holding individuals accountable for unlawful conduct. I commend our DOJ Criminal Division Chief Amie Simpson for her exceptional dedication and skillful prosecution of this case. Her work exemplifies the professionalism and perseverance of the Department.

The DOJ extends its appreciation to the investigative team, court personnel, and members of the
community who contributed to the pursuit of justice in this matter.

John F. McCarthy is a veteran journalist in the Caribbean, writing from the "Decision Space" where survival meets the surreal. His reporting steel was tempered by a lineage of legendary editors and broadcasters, including Ed Wynn Brant (The Bomb), Owen Eschenroder (Ann Arbor News), Lynelle Emanuel (BVI Beacon), and Charles Thanas (WSVI-TV). Alongside longtime colleague Kenneth C. "Casey" Clark, McCarthy has navigated the front lines of the territory’s history—from the 1997 volcanic "snow" to every major hurricane since Hugo. Known for leaning out of doorless helicopters to capture the "money shot," McCarthy now edits the V.I. Free Press, providing the essential link between the island's colonial past and its SpaceX future.