Jamaica labourer charged with slaying retired New Jersey teacher who owned home on island

KINGSTON, Jamaica _ A Jamaican man has been arrested and charged with killing a retired New Jersey teacher who had a second home on the Caribbean island, police announced Thursday.

Glenda Campbell’s body was found on Jan. 9 near a fishing beach southwest of Old Harbour, a gritty, coastal town west of Kingston where she had her home. The 56-year-old woman’s throat had been slashed and an autopsy found she’d suffered blunt-force trauma to her head.

Maurice Palmer, a 30-year-old labourer who lives near Campbell’s house, is suspected in the slaying. Authorities did not disclose a possible motive.

It was not immediately known if Palmer had a lawyer. A court appearance was set for Friday.

Campbell’s family originally was from Jamaica. Public records show she retired from the Paterson, New Jersey, school system in 2008.

The Associated Press