BODY FOUND BY PRISONERS

According to reports, prisoners spotted the body and contacted the administration at the island prison at 7 am Wednesday.

The Coast Guard was contacted and retrieved the body which was taken to Hart’s Cut Bay where it was viewed by the DMO.

At 10.30 pm Friday, La Roache, 49, was returning on a dinghy from Powerboats, where he went to purchase some items with his friend Jerry, another island dweller. In the darkness, La Roache failed to notice a pirogue being pulled by a rope tied to fishing boat “Real Lucky” in front of him.

Jerry saw the rope and ducked under it, but La Roache did not see the rope in time, and was not so lucky. The dinghy slammed into the pirogue, causing it to break its steering handle. Both men were thrown into the water. Jerry managed to hold on to the bow of the pirogue and searched the area for La Roache. The captain and the crew of the fishing vessel also joined the search, but failed to find the body.

Eventually the Coast Guard was informed but was unable to conduct a proper search. Police have ruled out foul play.