ST MARY, Jamaica – A 22-year-old man has been taken into police custody after an alleged mentally-ill man was found dead in Gayle, St Mary on Wednesday.

Police report that the body of 64-year-old Clifton Campbell, a labourer of Donnington district in Gayle, was found with multiple chop wounds and burn marks near his home.

Campbell, said to be of unsound mind, lived in a two-bedroom board house and was last seen on Sunday around 5pm by a shopkeeper. His brother became concerned when he did not see his brother for a few days and went in search of him.

Upon reaching the pathway that led to Campbell’s house, the brother found Campbell lying face down.
The police were called and, upon their investigation, they saw that Campbell had chop wounds to his neck, back and wrist which was almost severed. The body also had burn marks and was in a state of decomposition. Investigators also observed a freshly burnt area close to where the body was found.
The area was processed by the St Mary Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB).

Following the discovery of Campbell’s body, the police conducted a targeted operation in Cox Piece, during which a 22 year-old unemployed man was taken into custody.

The St Mary Police are investigating.