Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup 2022
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obituaries
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • All Woman
  • Career & Education
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Classifieds
  • Design Week
Jamaican mom left note in NYC fatal fire
RAYMOND… said his son was an even-tempered youth, who would never hurt anyone. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
Lifestyle, Local Lifestyle, Tuesday Style
AP and PAUL HENRY  
July 25, 2010

Jamaican mom left note in NYC fatal fire

POLICE believe a Jamaican mother who died in a suspected murder-suicide and arson in her New York City home penned a badly charred, fragmented note with the words “am sorry”.Observer from his home in St Andrew Saturday, said if he could turn back the hands of time, his only son would have been here with him in Jamaica, instead of a morgue somewhere in New York.Observer while sitting limp in an unfinished section of his house in Red Hills, St Andrew, that on numerous occasions the teen would complain to him about the way he was being treated by his 33-year-old mother.Observer that his son was not guilty and instead charged that the only likely suspect, in his eyes, would have been Jones because her “temper was too high”.Related stories:Inquiry Into Staten Island Fire Shifts to MotherUndigested pills found in suspected killer C.J. Jones’ stomach; handwriting in note could be mom’s

New York Police Department spokesman Paul Browne said yesterday that the note’s handwriting matched a diary also found in the Staten Island apartment. He said police believe both were written by Leisa Jones.

Investigators had described Jones’ 14-year-old son Romoy Ceejay Raymond as a suspect because he had a history of playing with fire.

But they haven’t ruled out his mother.

The bodies of Jones, Raymond, and two young daughters — their throats slit — were found early Thursday during a fire at the home. Raymond had a razor under his body.

A fourth child, a two-year-old boy, died at the hospital.

The 14-year-old’s father, Earlston Raymond, has maintained that his son — who was initially fingered as the main suspect — could not have committed the crime.

Raymond, who spoke with the

Raymond, a 39-year-old mechanic, told the

He said he would ask Jones to send home his son, who had been in the US for over six years, but she wouldn’t.

“I use to tell her to send home the youth because I’m a tradesman and he can learn a skill,” said Raymond. “But she wouldn’t send him. She would spank him and take away his phone.”

He said too that his son wanted to move back home.

“Boy, it hurt me fi know how de youth just dead so,” said Raymond.

Raymond told the

He said a friend in New York told him, following the tragedy, that Jones had on previous occasions threatened to kill the children and “burn down the house”.

With an expression of bewilderment and grief etched on his face, Raymond said his son loved his siblings and that he was an even-tempered youth who was not easily upset.

In contrast, Raymond described Jones as a violent woman and said that their relationship did not last because of her quick-tempered nature.

Now Raymond has only one desire, which he did not hesitate to share.

“Regardless of my son being dead and gone, I just want them to clear his name,” he said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The New York police initially believed that Romoy Raymond killed his family at their Staten Island New York home last Thursday, before slashing his own throat. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
Leisa Jones, 33, was said to have a bad temper.  (Photo: Naphtali Junior)
A firefighter works in the family’s burnt-out house in New York, Thursday. The early morning fire killed five people.  (Photo: AP)
Firefighters and other first responders work on the site of the fatal fire in New York, Thursday. (Photo: AP)
This photo released by the Wee Care day care centre in Staten Island via the Staten Island Advance, shows Jermaine Jones in New York in 2009. The two-year-old, his three siblings and mother all died after an early-morning fire in their Staten Island  home Thursday. (Photo: AP)
This undated photo released by the Wee Care day care centre in Staten Island via the Staten Island Advance, shows Melonie Jones in New York in 2009. The seven-year-old, her three siblings and mother all died after an early-morning fire in their Staten Island  home Thursday. (Photo: AP)
This photo released by the Wee Care day care centre in Staten Island via the Staten Island  Advance, shows Brittney Jones in New York in 2009. The 10-year-old, her three siblings and mother all died after an early-morning fire in their Staten Island home Thursday. (Photo: AP)

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

US says two killed in boat strike as toll climbs over 180
International News, Latest News
US says two killed in boat strike as toll climbs over 180
April 24, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—The United States (US) military said it killed two people in a strike on an alleged drug-trafficking vessel Friday, as...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Palestinians to vote in first elections since Gaza war
International News, Latest News
Palestinians to vote in first elections since Gaza war
April 24, 2026
RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories (AFP)—Palestinians in the West Bank and a central area of Gaza head to the polls Saturday for municipal elections in...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
JC’s Salmon upgraded to first in Penn Relays discus
Latest News, Sports
JC’s Salmon upgraded to first in Penn Relays discus
April 24, 2026
PHILADELPHIA, United States—Jamaica College’s Joseph Salmon upgraded his second place from last year to first in the high school boys' discus throw at...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
St Catherine labourer charged with murder of 68-year-old man
Latest News, News
St Catherine labourer charged with murder of 68-year-old man
April 24, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica—A St Catherine labourer has been charged in connection with the murder of 68-year-old Hartman Johnson, otherwise called ‘Pastor,’ a ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Kingston hotspot RawBar sets the stage for brunch experience
Entertainment, Latest News
Kingston hotspot RawBar sets the stage for brunch experience
April 24, 2026
One of Kingston’s hottest nightspots is bringing its signature energy into the daytime. This Sunday, April 26, RawBar steps beyond its rooftop setting...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Blind with a vision: Sasha Thorpe defies odds to become teacher
Latest News, News
Blind with a vision: Sasha Thorpe defies odds to become teacher
VANASSA MCKENZIE Observer Online reporter mckenziez@jamaicaobserver.com 
April 24, 2026
Despite losing her vision completely during her second year at St Joseph’s Teachers’ College, Sasha Thorpe has defied the odds to achieve her goal of ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Gaza civil defence says Israeli strikes kill 13
International News, Latest News
Gaza civil defence says Israeli strikes kill 13
April 24, 2026
GAZA CITY, Palestinian Territories (AFP)—Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli strikes across the Palestinian territory on Friday killed at least 1...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Two dead in Boscobel crash
Latest News, News
Two dead in Boscobel crash
April 24, 2026
ST MARY, Jamaica —Two men were killed, and several others were injured following a two-vehicle collision on the Boscobel main road on Friday morning. ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct