Suspect held in Tobago murder of US schoolgirl

The search for the man had intensified yesterday, with soldiers of the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment, along with tracker dogs, moving into the quiet fishing village on Tobago’s far north-east end.

Police investigators conducted searches throughout the district all-day on Sunday but came up empty-handed. However, police sources had indicated yesterday that they were following certain strong leads. The suspect, who was said to be a former worker on the new Tobago hospital project, was reportedly held late yesterday afternoon at a house in Mt Pelier, Scarborough, by a combined police party, inclusive of officers of the Scarborough CID and other detectives from Trinidad.

Kitty Nikole Pepe was reportedly stabbed to death as she lay in bed at a rented apartment at Top River, Charlotteville, late Friday night. The victim’s semi-nude body, bearing stab wounds to the right eye and abdomen, was discovered around 11.30 pm by the landlord.

Kitty and her mother, Heather, who have been residents in Charlotteville for more than a year, had been staying at the Top River apartment for about two weeks. The mother was not at home at the time of the incident. When she returned home she was confronted with the gruesome scene and her daughter’s lifeless body, Heather collapsed and was rushed by EHS ambulance to the Scarborough Hospital where she was warded. She was discharged from hospital on Sunday.

Kitty, who was said to be her mother’s only child, was a student of the Speyside High School located in the neighbouring village of Speyside, about three miles from Charlotteville.

According to reports, the victim’s muffled screams were heard coming from the downstairs apartment shortly after 11 pm. When the landlord investigated, he found the door to the apartment locked. However, through a crack on the door, a man was seen standing over the victim. The man subsequently exited the apartment and fled the scene on foot.

Police are investigating reports that the teenager had been involved in a romantic relationship which she recently terminated. It was also reported that the victim and her mother were scheduled to return to the United States shortly.

Meanwhile, reports yesterday revealed that Kitty’s relatives in the US had offered a large cash reward for information leading to the capture of her killer. Police investigations are continuing.