PHILIPSBURG--Both the Dutch and French side authorities are continuing the intense search for the prisoner Kathron Fortune a.k.a. “Cuchi” (38 years of age) who escaped on Monday, February 15, during a scheduled visit to the doctor’s office of Dr. Paul de Windt located on Welgelegen road in Cay Hill. The search for “Cuchi” has intensified and will continue. The Prosecutors Office has posted the reward of NAf. 5000, available to anyone for information that leads to the recapture of this fugitive of the law.
“Cuchi” was serving a 21 year prison sentence for a murder he committed on the Dutch side of the island. During his escape shots were fired and it is still being investigated whether the prisoner got access to a firearm. The prisoner managed to avoid capture even though an intense search was done by the police department and prison guards in the Cay Hill area, where he was last seen. It is assumed he had help from external sources to facilitate his escape. Immediately after his escape, a joint press release by the Prosecutor and Police Department was released to inform the public of the incident and requesting the publics’ assistance to be on the look-out for this fugitive and not to attempt to capture him, because he has been classified as “Armed and extremely dangerous.”
A full description of “Cuchi” and the latest photograph on file was also added to the press release along with phone numbers to call if anyone had any information that could lead to the recapture of the fugitive. The unlawful escape of this prisoner has raised serious concern for safety and created much unrest within the community. The immediate posting of his escape on the Face book page of the Police Force received many views and shares on social media. The Police thanked the community for their input and support and said that information they received was still insufficient to accurately track his location.
The Police Force had been working together with the French Gendarmes conducting general controls on different locations. House searches in the French Quarter area by Gendarmes were done to locate “Cuchi” who is also being sought by the French authorities for the murder with torture of Angelique Chauvire in 2006. These searches also did not lead to the arrest or recapture of the prisoner. “Cuchi” has possibly changed his appearance and might be using several disguises and modes of transportation to get from one location to another.
Authorities on both sides of the island strongly believe that “Cuchi” is being assisted by an unknown person or persons in the community. The Prosecutors Office and Police Department are taking this opportunity to remind the entire community that housing an escaped prisoner and assisting in the prevention of his/her recapture is a serious criminal offence and that person or persons will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
The Prosecutors Office and Police Department continue to request assistance from the community by being vigilant and to be on the lookout for this fugitive. The Justice Department will not stop with this search. Nevertheless they cannot do it alone and need the assistance from the community to locate this fugitive, recapture him and safely return him to prison where he belongs. Once this fugitive has been returned to prison a sense of tranquility will return and will be felt among the citizens in the community.
Anyone who has information that can lead to the recapture of this fugitive should immediately get in contact with the Police Department by calling tel. 542-2222 ext. 214 or 215, the anonymous tip line # 9300 or 911. All calls will remain totally confidential.
