PORT MARIA, Jamaica, May 3 (UPI) — Two U.S. missionaries were found murdered last weekend in Jamaica.
Randy Hentzel, 48, and Harold Nichols, 53, were discovered in St. Mary Parish, the Jamaican Constabulary Force confirmed. They worked for 14 years for the Pennsylvania-based religious group, TEAMS for Medical Missions.
“From the initial observations, it’s suspected that they were killed by gunshot wounds, but we are still waiting on the results of an autopsy,” Constable Yolanda Henry told NBC News.
Hentzel’s body was found on Saturday at one location and Nicholas was found Sunday in another location, Henry said.
“It’s something no one would have thought would have happened,” Jamaica Constabulary Force spokeswoman Dahlia Garrick said. “There was nothing to indicate anyone wanted to do them harm. They are highly respected people within the community.”
Hentzel and Nichols arrived in Jamaica in 2002. Hentzel is survived by his wife, Sara, and five children, said Ray Shive, former director of TEAMS for Medical Missions. Nichols is survived by his wife, Teri, a coordinator at the mission’s clinic in Jamaica.
The pair preached the Scripture and provided leadership training, according to the organization’s website.
“We do not know who would do this or what their motivation was,” John Heater, director of TEAMS, said in a statement. “These men greatly loved the people of Jamaica and were greatly loved in return.”
In a statement, the church said Hentzel was riding a motorcycle when he was attacked and killed.
Jamaica had 1,205 murders in 2015, according to a crime and safety report by theU.S. Overseas Security Advisory Council.
