Mom of tourist beaten to death on US Virgin Islands urges residents to 'come forward'

'Inept' US Virgin Islands cops cannot be trusted to probe the suspicious death of a swimming champ, whose boyfriend was previously charged with killing a tourist during a brawl, the tourist's mom says.

Jean Cockayne was forced to hire her own private detectives to get justice after her son James, 21, was beaten to death on St John Island in 2007. 

She says that the only way for Jamie Cail's death will be solved is if people come forward with information.  Cail's boyfriend Kamal Thomas, 34, spent 10 years in jail for his part in the death of Cockayne.

Thomas found Cail, 42, unresponsive on February 21 and rushed her to hospital with the help of a friend.  Virgin Islands' Police say Cail suffered a cardiac arrest, and haven't made any further comment. 

Cops have refused to confirm if Thomas is a suspect in Cail's death - with Jean insisting police cannot be trusted to investigate the incident properly. 

Thomas found Cail, 42, unresponsive on February 21 and rushed her to hospital with the help of a friend. Virgin Islands' Police say Cail suffered a cardiac arrest, and haven't made any further comment

Thomas pursued at least two successful appeals in relation to the attack on Cockayne, and also had the top charge of first-degree murder dismissed 

She told DailyMail.com: 'We advertised for a $10,000 reward, so people could help us. Witnesses who bravely gave evidence in his trial had to then move off the island.

'Even after they were found guilty it wasn't over. Nothing will happen if people don't come forward and talk.

'People are staying quiet because they are afraid of the repercussions. It is a very small island and they don't want their names to be mentioned.

'On the Virgin Islands, you can be convicted like these killers do, and be handed a 15 year sentence but after one or two years in prison they come up for parole which is every six months.

'Every six months me and my family were dragged down to the islands to attend a parole hearing, its ridiculous.

'How can you kill someone and have a parole hearing every six months after only a few years.

'It is very much cowboy country, it's a horrible situation. I feel terrible for her family.' 

Thomas pursued at least two successful appeals in relation to the attack on Cockayne, and also had the top charge of first-degree murder dismissed.

James Cockayne's  (pictured) family said it is 'very difficult' to get justice in the Virgin Islands

Cops have refused to confirm if Thomas is a suspect in Cail's death - with Jean insisting police cannot be trusted to investigate the incident properly 

Cockayne was just 21 when he was beaten and stabbed by a group of men on St John island in 2007 

During his first trial he was convicted of two counts of third-degree assault and associated weapons charges.

But his conviction was quashed in 2008 after it was revealed that prosecutors failed to turn over a key piece of evidence for the trial.

Thomas was then convicted of third-degree assault, simple assault, weapons charges and threatening a witness following a second trial in 2010.

He was sentenced to ten years in jail, with two years suspended, and was handed a fine of $11,750 for all of the charges, according to the V.I. Daily News.

Jean said that she was first told of Cail's death by a resident of St John who called to tell her about the police investigation.

She added: 'The police aren't going to do anything, everyone knows everyone on the island or they are related, so they cover for each other. No one wants to lose their tourist dollars.

'Our case was very very complicated, and the VIPD are just as inept now as they were then. People who go to the island just think it won't happen to then, but it can.

The former University of Maine swimmer worked at a coffee shop and bookstore in St John 

James Cockayne's mother told DailyMail.com that Thomas is an 'evil person' who is 'bad to the bone'

'Apparently she was an extraordinary young woman but she made some bad choices with men.

'But this guy is just bad to the bone. He is an evil person. It's a very dangerous place to go and live on the islands. I feel horrible for her family them because I know what they're going through.’

It comes as a former commissioner of the VIPD is urging the public to come forward with information to help solve crimes in the tropical community.

Rodney Querrard wrote in the Virgin Islands Daily News that officers are often aware of rumors about potential suspects, but struggle to get solid evidence for an arrest.

He said: 'Why is this happening? Why is this continuing to happen? Why do so many cases go unsolved?

'The only answer I have is, as long as we continue to be complacent and see (don't see), and hear (don't hear), it will continue.

'These crimes, for the most part continue to happen due to retaliatory turf wars (some drug related), and knowing that there is a great possibility that even if someone witnesses a crime, that individual will NOT say anything.

Authorities confirmed the medal-winning swimmer (second from right)  was discovered on the floor of her boyfriend's home on St John Island before being taken to the Myrah Keating-Smith Clinic

Jamie Cockayne was murdered just weeks after his 21st birthday in 2007 

'The criminals in our community are outnumbered by good, law-abiding citizens, there is no doubt about it, but we must do our part to deter this continuing downward spiral.'

Thomas' co-accused, Anselmo Boston, was found guilty of the same charges, while Jamil Ward was convicted of second-degree murder, assault and weapons charges.

Authorities confirmed that the medal-winning swimmer was discovered on the floor of her boyfriend's home on St John island before being taken to the Myrah Keating-Smith Clinic.

Hospital staff performed CPR when she arrived with her partner and a friend and 'indicated that she was in cardiac arrest', but Cail 'succumbed' and passed away in the early hours.

Detectives were informed of the dead-on-arrival case, with an autopsy being performed to determine her cause of death.

Officers from the Criminal Investigation Bureau are probing the death, though a spokesman for the VIPD did not respond to further questions from DailyMail.com.

In 1996-1997, Cail was included in the ten Top 16 lists published by United States Swimming, and swam in college at USC

Heartbroken residents have left tributes for the award-winning swimmer outside of the store, along with flowers

Her family said they have been left 'devastated' and 'shook to the core' by her death, and friends posted several cryptic messages about the tragic swimmer's passing.

One claimed she had been 'trying to escape', and added that she 'deserves justice' despite no arrests being made in connection with her death.

They described her as an 'amazing human and friend', while writing in a separate post about Cail that they were 'going to find out the truth'.

Another post – which appeared to also be about the swimmer – said: 'She tried to escape to start healing. Unfortunately, she didn't make it in time. You were so close honey'.

It was followed by advice for what to do if you are in an abusive relationship, but there has been no confirmation of the circumstances surrounding Cail's death.

One friend claimed she had been 'trying to escape', and added that she 'deserves justice' despite no arrests being made in connection with her death

The former University of Maine swimmer worked at a coffee shop and bookstore in St John.

Heartbroken residents have left tributes for the award-winning swimmer outside of the store, along with flowers.

Cail, from Claremont, New Hampshire, was a star swimmer who competed across the US in her youth.

A friend told WMUR: ' She was just... a very beautiful person. She had a huge heart.

'She was really loving and kind and well-loved and popular on the island and everybody knows her.'

In 1997, she competed for the US at the Pan Pacific Championships and won a gold medal in a relay race and won a silver medal at the 1998-1999 World Aquatics Swimming World Cup in Brazil.

The swimming star attended Bolles School, which is known for its swimming program, in Jackson, Florida.

In a statement, the school said: 'The Bolles School community is saddened to learn of the tragic passing of Jamie Cail ’99, an accomplished swimmer and dear friend to many Bulldogs who knew her during her time at the School from 1995-96 and part of the fall in 1997. 

'Our thoughts and prayers are with her loved ones during this immensely difficult time. '

Cail still holds the record for the the 200 yard fly, 400 yard IM, 200 meter IM, and 400 meter IM in the 15-16 age group.

She won several high school state championships in Huntington Beach, where she moved to train with the Golden West Swim Club in California.

James' mother, Jean Cockayne, hired private investigators to gather information about her son's death – and handed it over to cops while making it public

Cail was a member of the US team at the 1997 Pan Pacific Championships when she was still just a teenager, where she won a gold medal on the team's 800 free relay, according to SwimSwam.

She won a silver medal at the 1998-1999 FINA Swimming World Cup in Brazil in the 800 free as a member of the United States Swimming National B Team.

In 1996-1997, with Bolles, Cail was included in the ten Top 16 lists published by United States Swimming, and swam in college at USC.

In a statement, VIPD said: 'On Tuesday, February 21, 2023, at approximately 2:39a.m., detectives were notified of a dead on arrival (D.O.A) case at the Myrah Keating-Smith Clinic on St. John.

'On Tuesday, February 21, 2023, a male reported he arrived at his residence where he discovered his girlfriend on the floor.

'With the assistance from a friend, the female was transported to the Myrah Keating-Smith Clinic, where hospital staff indicated the female was in cardiac arrest. Hospital staff rendered CPR but, the female succumbed.

'The female was identified by her boyfriend as 42-year-old, Ms. Jamie Cail from New Hampshire. An autopsy is pending to determine the cause of death.

'This case is presently under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Bureau.'

Anyone with any information regarding this case is urged to contact 911, Criminal Investigation Bureau - Major Crime Unit at (340)774-2211 or Crime Stoppers V.I. at 1 (800)222-TIPS.