Man charged, another sought in American missionaries' deaths

NEW YORK -- One man has been arrested and police are searching for another in connection with the murders of two American missionaries in Jamaica, authorities announced Thursday night.

Randy Hentzel, 48, and Harold Nichols, 53, were found shot to death on April 30, after leaving the resort Tower Isle in St. Mary's Parish on their motorcycles at 8 a.m. Hentzel's body was found hours later, and Nichols' was found the next day.

Jamaica Constabulary Force Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay told Crimesider Friday that ballistics evidence tied the bodies to a gun associated with 25-year-old Andre "'Baugh" Thomas, who was arrested and charged with murder and illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.

Police are also searching for 25-year-old Dwight Henry, known by the nicknames 'Dougie' and 'Chino,' a relative of Thomas who is a person-of-interest in the case. Thomas and Henry are both from St. Mary's Parish, police said.

"Based on the information that we have, we suspect that he played a role in these crimes," Lindsay said.

Hentzel and Nichols had both lived in Jamaica for years, working for a Pennsylvania-based religious organization called Teams for Medical Missions. The two men and their families did evangelism and Bible ministry and built homes.

Lindsay said the victims were well-liked in their community and the murders appear to be random.

"As a matter of fact, robbery could have been the motive," Lindsay said. "Usually nobody interferes with tourists and missionaries when they come here."

It is not clear when Thomas, who has no previous arrests, will first appear in court.

Police said Thursday that Henry, who has a previous arrest for a sexual offense, may still be in St. Mary's Parish.