A New York City woman was brutally murdered during a trip to Jamaica to celebrate her 37th birthday, triggering a manhunt for her husband. Melissa Kerry Samnath was pronounced dead at Cornwall Regional Hospital in St James on April 29, just hours after arriving on the island for her birthday celebration, according to the Jamaica Constabulary Force.
Hospital Drop-Off and Disappearance
Samnath was in serious condition when her husband, Dane Watson, dropped her off in a wheelchair outside the hospital before disappearing, Samnath's niece told The Jamaica Gleaner. Watson allegedly left her there and fled. His mother later delivered the devastating news to Samnath's family in the United States. 'His mother called to tell us she got a phone call from him saying he killed her, and dropped her off in a wheelchair at the hospital,' the niece recounted. 'He didn't even have the audacity to take her into the hospital.'
Cryptic WhatsApp Message
Before her death, Samnath sent a cryptic WhatsApp message to her family shortly before 11pm. 'I need you to call the cops... Look at my location... It is a pink house,' she pleaded, according to The Gleaner. That pink house is Watson's home in Norwood, St. James, where police swarmed the property. Watson was not there, but detectives found pools of blood and some of Samnath's belongings. A neighbor said, 'There was a whole heap of blood in his house in Norwood. [He] beat her badly, man. Beat her in the head.'
Autopsy Confirms Homicide
An autopsy on May 6 confirmed Samnath died from multiple blunt-force trauma injuries to the head, leading authorities to investigate her death as a homicide. Residents reported no screams or signs of distress on the night of the murder. Surveillance footage showed Samnath following Watson from her Airbnb as he carried her suitcase, but it is unclear if she left willingly.
Family's Grief and Warning
Samnath's family is devastated. 'She didn't deserve that,' her niece said, describing her as 'one of the most loving persons ever.' Samnath, an accountant, was the youngest of four siblings. An online fundraiser describes her as a 'strong, loving and unforgettable woman whose warmth touched everyone around her.' The fundraiser has raised over $10,800, with remaining funds to be donated to domestic violence support organizations. Samnath's niece warned, 'There is a murderer on the run and he is clearly in an area with a lot of tourists. He is dangerous.' She added, 'Women need to be careful, because you don't know what he is capable of.'
