A picture of Sherry-Ann Simpson and (at right) a picture of Roy Matthews (right) and Kathleen Laing-Matthews. - contributed

Residents of the normally quiet community of Tower Isle in St Mary awoke to a gruesome discovery yesterday.

Three persons were dead after being stabbed and beaten.

The alleged murderer, a 28-year-old man, was later discovered hanging from a tree in his yard at Content Retreat in the parish.

The victims have been identified as 85-year-old Roy Matthews, his 55-year-old wife Kathleen Laing-Matthews, and their daughter Sherry-Ann Simpson, 25.

The suicide victim is 28-year-old taxi operator, Ricardo Marsh.

There are conflicting reports regarding the incident.

One report reaching The Gleaner is that Marsh and Simpson were involved in a relationship and things took a turn for the worse.

Simpson reportedly left the home to stay with her mother and step-father, who are returning residents.

Other reports suggested that the two had an amicable relationship and something might have triggered off a fight on Tuesday night.

Seen earlier

But the murders came as a shock to many as the two were reportedly seen together in Ocho Rios on Tuesday.

It is believed that Marsh visited the home Tuesday night and an argument developed, during which he allegedly beat Simpson before using a kitchen knife to inflict several stab wounds to her body, killing her on the spot.

He then set up on Marsh's mother, who was in another room.

Matthews, who had gone to choir practice at the Ocho Rios Methodist Church, returned later to the house where he was confronted by Marsh.

The police theorised that Marsh used a blunt instrument to inflict several blows to Matthews' head before he used the same knife to stab him several times.