Austin “Butchie” Smith died last week at his Estate Carolina home, several hours after being assaulted.
Smith, who was in his mid-50s, reported that he was assaulted at 4:15 p.m. on Thursday, December 15, according to the V.I. Police Department’s incident log at the Leander Jurgen Command. The incident was classified as an aggravated assault and battery, according to the police blotter.
At 1:01 a.m. on Friday, December 16, Smith’s brother reported to VIPD that Smith was not breathing. The incident was recorded as a D.O.A.
While wide-spread rumors had Smith being assaulted by a group of men in Cruz Bay on December 15 at least twice, there was no official word from the VIPD and those rumors could not be verified.
Officials are waiting to receive a report from the territorial medical examiner before releasing additional information, explained St. John Administrator Leona Smith, who was Smith’s first cousin.
“We have to wait until the medical examiner does his ruling to see what the cause of death was,” said Leona Smith. “If indeed it was a blunt force trauma to the head which killed him, they will investigate further and will arrest the suspect or suspects.”
Butchie Smith was a well-known character both in Cruz Bay and Coral Bay, who admittedly enjoyed having a good time, explained Leona Smith.
“We all know he liked to crack jokes at people, but it doesn’t give anyone the right to take anyone’s life,” she said. “I am certain this matter will be thoroughly investigated.”
