RUNAWAY BAY, St Ann — The recent murder of a female bartender from Salem, in this community, has unsettled bar owners. At least two of them say they will be even more vigilant in ensuring the safety of the women who work for them.

On May 27, the decomposing body of 25-year-old Rochelle Glaze was found in a shallow grave in Cardiff Hall, a residential community in Runaway Bay. On May 25 concerned family members had filed a missing person report after they were unable to make contact with her.

She had last been seen on May 21 at a bar in Runaway Bay. She was with a man. The St Ann police have since arrested and charged 30-year-old Runaway Bay resident Alromeo Pringle in connection with Glaze’s murder.

Delroy Sullivan, who is the manager at Rooftop Restaurant and Bar on Main Street in Salem, condemned Glaze’s death, calling it “scary” and a “cruel act”. He plans to meet with his bartenders to ensure they know about Glaze’s demise and provide them with tips on personal safety.

“I always talk to my girls and warn them about being alert — because these times are very serious — and for them to be careful of who they really get involved with. Because they can’t just go out and hang out with anybody like that,” said Sullivan.

“I also care a lot about my bartenders, so if it is late night when they finish working I have place for them to stay over,” he added.

Noting that Glaze was from St Elizabeth, Sullivan said he also has a policy in place to protect employees from other parishes.

“When girls come in from out of town and stay at the bar they have to tell me who they are going out with and where they are going. I have camera there as well so I keep watch even when I’m not around,” he explained. “I plan to have a meeting with my girls because they have to know what is happening around them and I will also try my best even more so now to protect them,” he added.

Canadian Wendy Fletcher, who has operated a bar called Just 1More in Salem since 2015, told the Observer that the incident has forced her to be even more alert.

“I always tell my girls to don’t go out on their own, especially at night, and keep to themselves because men or boys — in general — can’t be trusted. I talk to my girls and tell them what I know because I have been in this thing long enough. Some might not listen but I make sure I educate them. Now we have to be more alert about what we are doing,” she said.

Fletcher said Glaze’s death was heart-breaking and she hopes more will be done to punish those who are responsible for harming women.

“It is sad and unfortunate that she died; but what bothers me the most is that all these things happen to our women and the other person gets away with it. It’s like there is never enough punishment for the crime that is committed. These things happen and nobody is in trouble for it, which is just not fair,” she said.