death of the judge

Oh he was found hanged??
The local paper boy here in town said he was shot...................I heard the sirens as I was coming to work

I heard he hanged himself via a court employee and a juror

All rumors but the Police Ofc Jeff Browne's murder case was supposed to start today. Apparently the murder in JFK last night was a witness in the case. Judge Deramo (sp?) was found hanging...whether it was suicide or murder is left to be seen...but it's not looking good. Bring in the FBI!

Nobody mentioned a name and until I checked, I thought it might be Kendall -- was D'Eramo also unworthy of the robe?

francis was a good guy,one of his aquaintences committed suicide about 3 weeks ago and he stated that he could never do that to his 2 daughters,that nothing would ever be that bad,he was supposed to show for his weekly dinner at the bombay club with friends on sunday night and he never showed and they thought it was because the trial was starting today,this was also his weekend with his daughters but because of the trial he took them last weekend,he was murdered plain and simple just like the prosecutions star witness last night at jfk,there is not a person that knew him well that believes it was suicide

deleted my resaponse

This is just wrong!

i listened to the roger show this am, which i very rarely get a chance to do, and that is when i heard about the murder last night of a witness. today with the judges death????? seems very suspicious if you ask me, but who am i , i dont know everythng. if this was murder, are the people who are accused with the murder 2 years ago going to kill all involved??? WTF sick sick sick, i feel so bad for his family.

i heard ( 0f course rumors now) that there was a letter. But he could have been made to write one. And another witness shot. Another one else hear that? I think its time for the FEDS to step in. What other judge would want to handle this now. I would be scared out my wits. Most likely the very ones investigating this know more. Not all are corrupt but something is going on....

I work down town and have never heard so many police, ambulances (sp) and other gov't cars flying by. knew it had to be something bad.

Maybe now they should change the venue of this trial altogether. Send them stateside. Protect all witnesses etc.

To bad a young man had to loose his life over this. What is happening to this place?????

We need CSI Miami.

Francis J. D'Eramo
1959-2009

he looked like a sweet man, you can see it in his eyes. thats a nice photo, where did you get it

That photo is on his Facebook page. He was a very sweet man. Such a waste and I feel so bad for his adorable daughters.
The rumors are flying and I just hope there is a thorough and appropriate investigation (I agree that we need the feds involved). Sad situation.

And we wonder why people don't want to step forward with information?

You are so right Trade!

Too bad, I never herd bad about him.
I agree W/ dnt, I also thought it might be Kendall (which would have improved our court system).
Dun

I think I just heard on TV2 that the ME ruled it a suicide by hanging. Maybe she misspoke because usually a Medical Examiner only rules on cause of death i.e. by hanging not weather or not it was murder or suicide. Sad - very sad either way.

Poor man, his daughters and their mother. I cannot imagine their pain and grief. I pray that justice is served.

I'm not from the island yet and i'm still excited about relocating there. This just scares me. I think the judge's family and all envolved need to come stateside. contact a major television news station, the FBI. and certainly move that trial stateside also. Sounds like there is no justice system, and no protection either. This is not right, i hope they are offering these families protection. The judge and a witness within 24 hours of each other and the trial was set for today.

Yeah, this is pretty f&*&ed up.

What a horrible tragedy.

This is a horrible tragedy for his family and friends. I hope that it is not just buried...too coincidental. Outside agencies do need to step in!! Justice for him and his family! And this is exactly why people do not come forward. Just hope that some truth comes out.

You'd think by now that maybe a day or two surrounding the court date they would provide overnight protection for witnesses and judges. Hasn't this stuff happened several times before? But, when a cop is on trial would you want another cop protecting you?

Sheez how horrible.

This is almost unbelievable--sounds more like an episode of "24." I am currently a state prosecutor in Kentucky, a retired circuit court trial judge, and a former FBI Special Agent. I know the FBI has a presence in the USVI, and it certainly seems like this is a prime case for investigation. Threats against those involved in the criminal justice system are part of the job. Happens even here in Kentucky. Has happened to me. If there was ever a time for a major FBI investigation (i.e. like what we did in Chicago many years ago) now is the time. These thugs need to be caught, and the appropriate punishment administered. My wife and I still plan on moving in 2011 to STX, but this is certainly disturbing news.

Steve

The rampant speculation is dishonorable and embarrassing. Please stop making unfounded assumptions and comparisons to TV dramas. Feel free to share concrete facts and statements from public officials. Otherwise, continue to keep his family in mind and respect Judge D'Eramo's contributions to the Virgin Islands.

Yes i agree we are all speculating. What ever happened to the judge it is still sad.

I am not happy with our police department leading the investigation. I know of a Murder in the past that was never solved.

I heard the man beating his wife earlier in the day and that night she was killed. They were called to that house several times a week, for domestic violence and when a murder was commited there, they (investigators) were at his house laughing and yucking it up at his outside bar. Had to be a pay off somewhere since the owner of the house was rich.

And to think local cops are heading this up.......thats scary.

I personally do not believe suicide (my opinion) How could they come to that conclusion so quickly??? Less then 24 hours.

Was there a letter?????