A 25-year-old man has been charged in connection with the recent murder of two homeless persons in Montego Bay, St James.

He has been named as Ronaldo Ricketts, a resident of West Gate Hills in Montego Bay, St James.

In a statement on Friday, September 8, the St James police said that Ricketts provided a caution statement to detectives in the presence of his attorney, admitting his involvement in several murders within the township of Montego Bay. He was later charged on Thursday, September 7, with the murder of the two homeless men.

According to the law officers, the first crime was committed on Friday, July 28, around 1:15 a.m. on Barnett Street in the parish, where an unidentified male was discovered with stab wounds.

Another homeless man was reportedly found with stab wounds on St Cleavers Street, also in the parish, on August 19 around 11:45 p.m.

“The community of Montego Bay is deeply saddened by these disturbing events and we are committed to ensuring that justice is served for the victims and their families. The arrest and charges against Ricketts mark a significant step in addressing this unsettling series of events,” said Superintendent Eron Samuels, commanding officer for the St James Police Division.

The police said Ricketts is being probed for similar crimes in the parish.