[UPDATED] Kidnap victim murdered after ransom paid

RELATIVES of 35-year-old kidnap victim Kerry Von Adams are distraught after he was killed despite a ransom being paid for his safe release.

Von Adams’s body was found in Heights of Guanapo on July 7, a day after his family paid a $15,000 ransom.

Von Adams left home at around 11 pm on July 5 to lime at a bar in Arima, but his family received a call less than two hours later by someone who claimed to have kidnapped him.

Less than an hour later, the family scrambled together the ransom and was instructed to drop it off along the Tumpuna Road, Arima.

Unfamiliar with the area, the relative called back the kidnapper and was given directions on the phone as she named the streets she was passing.

She was instructed to throw the envelope with the cash out of her car window somewhere near Gill View and Davis Court Road near the Tumpuna Road Seventh-Day Adventist church.

The kidnapper then told her to pick up Von Adams at the Arima Boys’ RC School, but when she got there, he was not there and the kidnappers stopped answering his phone.

They then contacted the police and engaged volunteer search teams in the hope he would be found alive.

Their hopes were dashed, however, when his body was found lying in the underbrush among some fruit trees on private farmland in Heights of Guanapo at around noon on July 7.

A farmer cleaning his land found Von Adams’s body with bullet wounds and called the police.

“I came to the farm and went to spray. As I was passing in the area, I saw the leg of a man in the bush so I went and called the police.”

Police suspect Von Adams was shot at the scene as casings were found near to his body.

The farmer, a retired doctor who was shot during a robbery years ago, described the crime situation in TT as ridiculous.

“I knew when the police used to have a baton alone. No bullet proof vest or anything, and short pants, tall socks and the baton on the side. Now, the police came here today and at least about ten had guns, each with a gun and a revolver.

“It’s terrible that the country has come to such an extent that police have to be armed like that.”

Relatives: Crime of opportunity

Some relatives went to the place his body was found after hearing the news and said although they were not able to identify his body, they were reliably informed that it was Von Adams.

“We have to go to Forensic (Science Centre) to do the official viewing, but the people there saw the picture of him and they confirmed it was him.”

They described him as “the greatest” and said he was always supportive of his family.

“He loved us. He was the youngest in the family and the last of five. He was always there for us.”

Von Adams was engaged to his high-school sweetheart and was in the initial stages of planning their wedding.

The family said although Von Adams ran his own upholstery business in D’abadie, they do not believe he was specifically targeted.

“We didn’t think anybody will target us or target him. We are normal everyday people. I don’t get it. I don’t understand.”

They told Newsday they believed he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and his kidnappers turned killers saw a chance to make some easy money.

“I just feel like it was an opportunity that the criminals saw and they took it. Because he not owing anybody, he has no grievances with anybody.

“They probably just tried to steal the vehicle and decided if he don’t have his bank card on him or whatever, they tried (to find a way to get some more money).”

Police: Call us, we are trained to deal with kidnappings

The female relative who spoke with the kidnapper told Newsday how she felt after receiving the call on the morning of July 6.

“I was just studying to save his life. That’s all. At that point in time, they could have asked me for arm and leg or my life in return and I would be there for him. That’s all I was studying. I wasn’t studying anything else but to get him home safely the best way I can.

“Hence, I tried to comply with what they said in the hope that they would give him back (to us).”

She said when you got to the school and realised he wasn’t there she began to panic.

“I made a million rounds around the block and I just…I didn’t know. I was still hoping that they would have dropped him off somewhere else and, you know, he would have called me or something. But I waited and it never happened.”

ACP Criminal Division Richard Smith advised people whose loved ones are kidnapped to get the police involved as soon as possible.

He acknowledged there may be some hesitation to do so but said police are trained for these type of situations.

“We have trained people in the Anti-kidnapping Unit (AKU) who are specialised and have been doing this for some time.”

Smith noted the police success rate in dealing with kidnapping for ransom.

“Last year we had a 100 per cent detection rate. There were eight kidnappings for ransom and people were arrested and charged in every single one of those matters.

“The AKU officers are highly trained for this type of situation and they also have hostage negotiation specialists, so contact the police.”

Pointing to Von Adams’s case as an example, Smith added, “Even if you don’t contact the police initially, look at what could still happen.”

‘Killers don’t belong around normal citizens’

The family, meanwhile, said his killing had left them traumatised and speechless, as they never expected anything like that to happen.

They said although they were aware of the level of crime in TT, it never really affected anyone, until it did.

“Every day you read about these things and it becomes a norm. I feel like in some way or the other, as humans or citizens, we just get a bit desensitised to what we are reading every day.

“But until it reach to you, then you really get to understand and experience what it is… I really hope they get a grip on the crime situation in the country.”

Another female relative said they wanted justice for his murder and had faith that God would deliver it for them.

“I don’t know the kind of ‘things’ out there that don’t have a heart and will take somebody’s life. But we want them behind bars because they don’t belong around normal citizens. These people are possessed.

“They’re crazy that they have some sort of trauma that causes them to think that they could just take somebody’s life and dump them. We want them put behind bars.”

The relative added Von Adams’s death had affected how they lived and their daily schedule.

“I already said I will not be going out at night. Because you can’t be (living) as normal. You can’t be a good person and walk the streets anymore. You just can’t! You can’t be normal!

She added crime in TT is discouraging people from enjoying life.

“You have to stay inside. I notice my neighbours, they stay inside. Their children go to where (they going) and come right back. You can’t live normal in Trinidad anymore because bad things like this happen.”

Police said they are following all leads into Von Adams’s murder, but up till the time of publication no arrests had yet been made.

This story has been adjusted to include additional details. See original post below.

The body of 35-year-old kidnap victim Kerry Von Adams was found in Heights of Guanapo on July 7, a day after his family paid a ransom for his release.

Von Adams left home on July 5, and his family received a call later that night by someone who claimed to have kidnapped him.

The kidnapper demanded a $15,000 ransom which the family paid the next day to secure Von Adams’s safe release.

Despite paying the ransom, around noon on July 7, a farmer cleaning his land in the Heights of Guanapo found Von Adams’s body with bullet wounds and called the police.

Police suspect he was shot at the scene as bullet casings were found near his body.