FREDERIKSTED — A St. Croix man is accused of feigning an injury in order to gain entrance to an old man’s home and beat him viciously, authorities said.
Travis Lawrence, 36, of Estate St. Georges, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
The charge stems from an assault incident in Estate St. Georges that was first reported to police on June 15, 2025, at approximately 3:53 a.m., according to the VIPD.
Reports indicated that the victim was an elderly male, that was beaten unconscious and subsequently
transported by ambulance to the Juan Luis Hospital Emergency Room, police said previously.
Upon the arrival of the responding Criminal Investigation Bureau Detectives at the Hospital, they contacted the victim, who was still unconscious and sustained visible injuries to his head.
According to the witnesses, they were sleeping inside their home when they heard someone outside their
residence asking for help.
Upon making a check, they realized it was their neighbor, Travis Lawrence.
The victim invited Lawrence inside the residence to render assistance; however, Lawrence locked the screen door behind him and began to attack the victim by punching him continuously in the face and head. Due to the severity of the victim’s injuries, he was airlifted off island for further medical treatment.
Lawrence was placed under arrest for the assault and released. He then was afforded an opportunity by the Superior Court to leave island.
During this investigation the victim later succumbed to his injuries on August 20, 2025.
Thereafter a Detective from the Major Crime Unit filed this case with the Superior Court
seeking an arrest warrant for Travis Lawrence.
On September 23, 2025, the arrest warrant was signed by the Honorable Judge of the Superior Court for Travis Lawrence’s arrest.
His bail was set at $1,000,000.00. The warrant was entered, into the National Crime Information
Center to aid in the apprehension of Travis Lawrence.
On November 3, 2025, at about 12:03 p.m., 36-year-old Travis Lawrence was present at the
Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Station to turn himself in with his Defense Attorney and
was able to post bail.
