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Jamaica: Missionaries from Teams for Medical Missions killed | Jamaica: Missionaries from Teams for Medical Missions killed |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Two US missionaries have been found dead in a rural area of the Caribbean island of Jamaica notorious for its high rates of crime, police say. | Two US missionaries have been found dead in a rural area of the Caribbean island of Jamaica notorious for its high rates of crime, police say. |
The pair have been named as Randy Hentzel, 48, and Harold Nichols, 53. | The pair have been named as Randy Hentzel, 48, and Harold Nichols, 53. |
They worked in Jamaica for a Pennsylvania-based religious group called Teams for Medical Missions. | They worked in Jamaica for a Pennsylvania-based religious group called Teams for Medical Missions. |
Their battered bodies were found in bushes in separate areas, police say. There have been no arrests and so far no motives put forward for the crime. | Their battered bodies were found in bushes in separate areas, police say. There have been no arrests and so far no motives put forward for the crime. |
American media reports quoted their pastor in the US as saying that Mr Hentzel and Mr Nichols were riding a motorbike before they were attacked and killed. | American media reports quoted their pastor in the US as saying that Mr Hentzel and Mr Nichols were riding a motorbike before they were attacked and killed. |
Mr Hentzel, married with five children, had been a missionary in Jamaica for several years. | Mr Hentzel, married with five children, had been a missionary in Jamaica for several years. |
His church in the US is urging the congregation to pray for his family during "this time of shocking news and great loss". | |
A statement said that churchgoers should be ready, as always, to serve and minister to the dead pastor's family in the days ahead. | |
"We as a body need to weep with them and wrap our arms around them." the statement said. | "We as a body need to weep with them and wrap our arms around them." the statement said. |
Fellow missionary Merlin Pratt said he was informed the two men were killed as they made their way to check on the foundations of a house they were building for an impoverished family. | Fellow missionary Merlin Pratt said he was informed the two men were killed as they made their way to check on the foundations of a house they were building for an impoverished family. |
"Harold and Randy were both great men of God who just loved Jamaica," Mr Pratt wrote on Facebook. | "Harold and Randy were both great men of God who just loved Jamaica," Mr Pratt wrote on Facebook. |
Jamaica had about 1,200 killings in 2015, an increase of roughly 20% from the previous year. | Jamaica had about 1,200 killings in 2015, an increase of roughly 20% from the previous year. |
Jamaica has a population of about 2.7 million people. It is ranked among the most violent countries in the world. | Jamaica has a population of about 2.7 million people. It is ranked among the most violent countries in the world. |
The US embassy in Jamaica said officials were in touch with the victims' families, and the ambassador had contacted commanders of the island's security forces. | The US embassy in Jamaica said officials were in touch with the victims' families, and the ambassador had contacted commanders of the island's security forces. |
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