http://www.apbnews.com/newscenter/breakingnews/2000/03/10/tortola0310_01.htm
l

Lois loved sailing and diving in the British Virgin Islands. Her murder came
as a great shock and has been deeply saddening....


Forwarded:

> > > > The following includes the latest Associated Press
> > national/international
> > > > wire article and Web link which references the articles that had
> > appeared
> > > in
> > > > the Hartford Courant and Charlottesville Daily Progress newspapers:
> > > >
> > > > http://www.b-v-i.com/newslinks/
> > > >
> > > > ^AM-CT-Caribbean-Artist Slaying,1333<
> > > > ^Artist's slaying, Americans' arrests, shock 'Nature's Little
Secrets'
> > > > Isles<
> > > > ^By JAMES ANDERSON=
> > > > ^Associated Press Writer=
> > > > ¶ ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands (AP) _ Amid the soothing ping
of
> > > > yachts' masts and roosters' crowing, the discovery of the body of a
> U.S.
> > > > artist along a scenic, boulder-strewn shore stunned this corner of
> > > > Caribbean paradise _ a place whose easy propriety draws thousands
> yearly
> > > to
> > > > its cozy harbors.
> > > > ¶ Of only slight consolation to British Virgin islanders were the
> > > arrests
> > > > of four foreigners _ all American visitors _ hours after Lois
> Livingston
> > > > McMillen, 34, of Middlebury, Connecticut, was slain the night of
Jan.
> > > > 14-15.
> > > > ¶ The men had been seen with her in the days before her drowning
> > death,
> > > > and they face murder charges that could bring life in prison, with
> > > > possibility of parole.
> > > > ¶ "This kind of thing never happens here," said Ben Bischmann, 24,
a
> > > > Chicago native who is a manager at Pusser's Soper's Hole, a West End
> > > > harborside pub popular with locals, sun-bronzed sailors and
> vacationers.
> > > > ¶ "This is a place where you leave the keys in your car and don't
> lock
> > > > the doors," Bischmann said. "You hitchhike if you need a ride home."
> > > > ¶ Michael Spicer, 36, a law student from Washington, D.C., and a
> > > longtime
> > > > neighbor of McMillen's on Tortola; his Tortola houseguests Evan
> George,
> > > 22,
> > > > a construction worker from Washington; investment banker William
> > Labrador,
> > > > 36, of Southhampton, New York; and Alexander Benedetto, 34, who
works
> > for
> > > a
> > > > book publisher in New York City, all deny the charges and deny being
> > with
> > > > McMillen the night she disappeared.
> > > > ¶ They are jailed at Her Majesty's Prison, a remote hilltop place
> that
> > > > boasts a panoramic view of the palm-fringed shores where they _ and
> the
> > > > deceased _ once partied.
> > > > ¶ A preliminary inquiry set for March 27 will determine whether
the
> > case
> > > > goes to trial. Until then, prosecutors won't present evidence in the
> > > > slaying, said senior crown counsel Terrence Williams.
> > > > ¶ If it is sent to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, trial
likely
> > > > won't occur before October when the court _ which serves several
> > > countries_
> > > > has its next session here.
> > > > ¶ McMillen's death shocked many of the 14,000 residents of
Tortola,
> > the
> > > > most populated of the British Virgin Islands' 40-odd islands and
keys.
> > The
> > > > relatively crime-free archipelago is a scenic territory whose
> population
> > > > swells with thousands of sailors and vacationers and whose
> British-based
> > > > law system bars counsel from discussing evidence outside of court.
> > > > ¶ The available documents _ as well as interviews with police and
> > > > residents _ revealed little motive for a slaying, alongside a web of
> > > > overlapping relationships between McMillen and the four men accused
in
> > her
> > > > death.
> > > > ¶ "It's really, really sad. I pray for her," said Sgt. Patrick
> > Harewood
> > > > of the Royal British Islands Police Force as he looked at a photo of
> the
> > > > striking McMillen, gazing intently at the camera.
> > > > ¶ Remembered at a Feb. 12 Connecticut memorial as a painter,
> > > > philanthropist and ardent activist against domestic violence, by
some
> > > local
> > > > accounts McMillen allowed few to get close to her _ but was
passionate
> > in
> > > > her beliefs and causes and liked to dress to the nines. She had come
> to
> > > the
> > > > family's Tortola villa often with her father, Russell G. McMillen,
> > retired
> > > > chairman of a lock manufacturing company, and her mother, Josephine.
> > > > Spicer's family owned a home up the hill at Long Bay and he had
known
> > the
> > > > McMillens for about 15 years.
> > > > ¶ McMillen's body was found Jan. 15 by a pedestrian on the shore
> next
> > to
> > > > Sir Frances Drake Highway near Tortola's West End. She was fully
> clothed
> > > > with "what appeared to be blood oozing from her ear," Chief
Inspector
> > > Jacob
> > > > George said in an affidavit. Officers found "female accessories
strewn
> > > from
> > > > the road to the sea and some blood stains," and George surmised she
> "had
> > > > been involved in a struggle."
> > > > ¶ A pathologist determined she had not been sexually assaulted.
> > > > ¶ Her rental vehicle was found nearby. In it, George stated, was a
> > > > shoeprint that police photographed, presumably to be used as
evidence.
> > > > ¶ In an affidavit, Spicer stated that he and his friends saw
> McMillen
> > > the
> > > > night of Jan. 12 at Bomba's Surfside Shack, a popular north-cast
bar,
> > and
> > > > that McMillen gave the four a ride home early Jan. 13. The night of
> Jan.
> > > > 13, the four and McMillen went out for food and drinks at Pusser's.
> > > > Labrador walked home, and McMillen later drove the rest home, Spicer
> > said.
> > > > ¶ "That was the last time I saw Lois," Spicer allegedly declared
in
> a
> > > > separate statement to police. "Since all of us have been here, we've
> > been
> > > > going out drinking a lot. ..."
> > > > ¶ McMillen was last believed seen the evening of Jan. 14 at the
West
> > End
> > > > waterfront bar of the Jolly Roger Inn, which sports pirate's flags
> > > flapping
> > > > in the breeze and a prized view of ray-strewn sunsets.
> > > > ¶ That night, Spicer said he and his houseguests went to Quito's
> > Gazebo,
> > > > a low-key north-coast beach bar _ a half hour's drive from the Jolly
> > Roger
> > > > _ where locals and visitors mix easily to reggae music. They took a
> cab
> > > > home about 2:30 a.m., then watched a movie, "Vertigo." Labrador told
> > > police
> > > > he went with other friends to an ATM machine, then decided to stay
> home
> > > > that night.
> > > > ¶ Hours after McMillen's body was discovered along Tortola's
> southwest
> > > > shore, police went to Spicer's home. They left, then returned and
> seized
> > > > clothing worn by the men the previous night.
> > > > ¶ "Michael Spicer admitted to having been wearing a blood-stained
> > shirt.
> > > > He was not able to account for the blood," said a statemenet from
Sgt.
> > > > George. It added that "there was blood on one pair" of three pairs
of
> > wet,
> > > > sandy shoes also seized.
> > > > ¶ Spicer and Evan George's attorney, Oscar Ramjeet, suggested that
> > > > forensic tests being conducted in Jamaica could benefit his client.
> > > > Benedetto's attorney, Paul Dennis, declined comment. Labrador
attorney
> > > > Gerard Ferrara didn't immediately return telephone messages.
> > > > ¶ In another affidavit, Benedetto said he met McMillen in Tortola
in
> > > 1997
> > > > and began a relationship with her. "The relationship ended amicably
> > after
> > > > three months," said Benedetto, who said he works in a family book
> > > > publishing business.
> > > > ¶ Benedetto said he didn't see McMillen again until Jan. 12, at
> > Bomba's,
> > > > where "we spoke for about an hour and she told me that she did not
> like
> > > > Tortola anymore and that the natives were treating her with
aggression
> > and
> > > > meanness."
> > > > ¶ At Bomba's, a ramshackle beach bar whose decor consists of wall
> > > > graffiti scrawled by hundreds of visitors and weathered panties and
> bras
> > > > donated by revelers and strung from the corrugated tin ceiling,
> McMillen
> > > > was remembered as a regular.
> > > > ¶ "I know Lois since she was 17 years old. I watched her grow up,"
> > said
> > > > owner Bomba "Shack," an imposing 54-year-old. "I tell you what, she
> was
> > a
> > > > girl who liked to dress. ... Everyone knew her as the girl who
dressed
> > all
> > > > the time."
> > > > ¶ A photo pinned to a wall shows Bomba standing next to McMillen,
> > > wearing
> > > > a purple sequinned dress and holding a tambourine.
> > > > ¶ "I'd be the guy she'd ask, will you tell these guys to leave me
> > > alone,"
> > > > Bomba said. "She was quite popular but she wasn't a girl you could
> talk
> > > sex
> > > > to."
> > > > ¶ In his own Jan. 16 statement to police, Evan George stated that
he
> > was
> > > > unemployed, had had a relationship with Spicer for 2-1/2 years, and
> > lived
> > > > in a Washington studio apartment owned by Spicer. "Michael is the
> > > > benefactor of a trust fund and he also plays the stock market,"
George
> > > > declared.
> > > > ¶ Meanwhile, the locals wait nervously. On islands dubbed
"Nature's
> > > > Little Secrets," where drivers and pedestrians shout hellos in
> passing,
> > > > they don't want the sensationalism that can accompany U.S. trials to
> > > > jeopardize a tourism industry worth some dlrs 200 million last year
> and
> > > > responsible for about half the jobs.
> > > > ¶ And more importantly, many say: An adopted daughter is gone.
> > > > ¶ "She been missing here," Bomba said. "Really missing."

>>>>James

> > > > >Thanks for your information. I'm so sorry for your loss.
She
> > > sounds
> > > > > like she was someone special and the crime... atrocious. What is
> your
> > > > > opinion of the four men arrested. Simply put, do you think they
did
> > it?
> > > > Why?
> > > > > Whats the evidence?
> > > > >
> > > > > > >Hi John,
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >Thanks for your considerate email. She was special. When
you
> > get
> > > a
> > > > > chance to read the Charlottesville Daily Progress newspaper
article
> > (if
> > > > you
> > > > > haven't done such already)which can be accessed via the following
> Web
> > > > site,
> > > > > you will read that Michael Spicer's bloodstained clothing was
found
> at
> > > his
> > > > > villa (which is next door to the McMillen villa) by the Tortola
> > Police:
> > > > >
> > > > > > > >http://www.b-v-i.com/NewsLinks/
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >Analysis of the blood is being done at a forensic lab on
> > Jamaica.
> > > > The
> > > > > results have not yet been received by the Tortola Police as such
> > delayed
> > > > the
> > > > > preliminary inquiry (which was to have taken place on February
23rd)
> > > until
> > > > > next month (on March 27th) on Tortola. That preliminary inquiry
will
> > > > reveal
> > > > > the crown's case against the four US citizens arrested for Lois'
> > murder.
> > > > In
> > > > > an attempt to help with the case, I forwarded the following email
> > > exchange
> > > > > (with Chad Russsell) to the senior crown counsel(as it conveys
some
> of
> > > my
> > > > > thinking)
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > The above referenced Associated Press article made mention in that
> > Spicer
> > > > has had an "affair" with 22-year-old Evan
> > > > > George (with George apparently being financially dependant on the
> > > wealthy
> > > > > Spicer as George flew from the west coast to D.C. where
> > > > > Spicer was living)?
> > > >
> > > > > > > >If Spicer is bi-sexual and rekindled something (or even
> started
> > > > > something) with Lois as their families have known each other for
> > twenty
> > > > > years, did George get into a "gay rage" against Lois based on
> > jealousy?
> > > If
> > > > > Lois did have something going on with Spicer, did she call him a
fag
> > > > > (referring to his possible gay relations with George and the other
> > > three)
> > > > > when she saw no hope of having an eventual normal relationship
with
> > him
> > > > > (even though Lois' Mother denies that Lois had anything going on
> > > > > romantically with Spicer, but such shouldn't be the final word in
> case
> > > > Lois
> > > > > did possibly have something going on with Spicer that Lois' Mother
> > > didn't
> > > > > know about)? If Lois did challenge Spicer about him being
> > gay/b-sexual,
> > > > did
> > > > > her doing such drive Spicer into a "gay rage" in the car (as Lois'
> > > Mother
> > > > > had told me that there were signs of a violent struggle in the
> > car-such
> > > is
> > > > > also mentioned in the Charlottesville Daily Progress article)? In
> > > another
> > > > > possible scenario, did Spicer and the other three make sexual
> advances
> > > on
> > > > > Lois which were rebuffed that triggered violence as the men were
> seen
> > to
> > > > be "on the hunt" earlier at the resyatuarants? I still think that
the
> > > > > possible "gay rage" scenario is the most plausible...
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >I was told told by the AP reporter (who was on Tortola
> > yesterday)
> > > > > that a possible romantic liaison between Spicer and Lois has been
> > > raised.
> > > > I
> > > > > also read that Benedetto had a "fling" with Lois according to what
> > > > Spicer's
> > > > > sister had mentioned in that Charlottesville Daily Progress
> newspaper
> > > > > article (but Spicer's sister could be simply "blowing smoke" about
> > such
> > > > like
> > > > > when she had said in that Daily Progress article that there isn't
> any
> > > > > evidence-if that blood on Spicer's clothing comes back as Lois'
> blood,
> > I
> > > > > would say such is pretty damning for Spicer and is evidence!).
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >If Benedetto did have a prior "fling" with Lois, did
> Benedetto
> > > get
> > > > > jealous of Lois and Spicer (if they had something going on)?
Again,
> > did
> > > > George get
> > > > > jealous of a possible romantic liaison between Spicer and Lois?
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >Labrador returned early to Spicer's villa according to that
> > Daily
> > > > > Progress article? Why? Did he get jealous if Lois had rekindled
> > > something
> > > > > with Benedetto (if she did indeed have a prior "fling" with
> Benedetto)
> > > and
> > > > > if Labrador had something gay going on with Benedetto? I think
> Spicer
> > > was
> > > > > with George and Benedetto was with Labrador (with possible
> > "interaction"
> > > > as
> > > > > such is known to occur with some gay/bi-sexual scenarios). Again,
a
> > > > possible envy
> > > > > driven "gay rage" scenario has to be investigated, and I have made
> > such
> > > > > known to the appropriate authorities on Tortola...
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > I would also like to know how Lois' body got to be a mile away (or
> > > > > so) from the car? At first, I thought that she might have been
> beaten
> > > and
> > > > > thrown into the water (with the current and tide washing her up on
> > that
> > > > > rock). But her accessories were found near her body according to
> that
> > > > Daily
> > > > > Progress article. So how did she get onto that rock? Did one or
more
> > of
> > > > them
> > > > > beat her and then throw her in the water (or did they leave her
> there
> > to
> > > > > drown after beating her in a possible drunken stupor?)with the
tide
> > > > > elevating her onto the rock and leaving her upon it when the tide
> > > lowered.
> > > > > Or after beating her, did they kill her by intentionally drowning
> her
> > in
> > > > > order for her not to be alive to later file assault charges
against
> > > > whoever
> > > > > did such to her (out of the four)? Then did they leave her on the
> rock
> > > and
> > > > > drive away in her car and abandon it a mile or so down the road
> after
> > > they
> > > > > realized that they couldn't be seen in her car? Or after beating
her
> > > (and
> > > > > leaving her in the water to drown or intentionally drowning her or
> did
> > > she
> > > > > stumble to the water where she eventually drowned after becoming
> > > > > unconscious from the brutal beating). Did the men drive off in the
> car
> > > > while
> > > > > she stumbled to the water and then abandon it a mile or so away
> > because
> > > > they
> > > > > didn't want to be seen in the car. Again, I have so many questions
> > that
> > > > > still remain unanswered...