Police patrols have been beefed up in Bacolet, Tobago, following the double murder of a German couple last weekend. T&T Guardian visited Bacolet Crescent yesterday and was met with locked houses and very few persons, including construction workers, who chose to say anything about the incident or the couple themselves. Herbertus, 71, and his wife, Birgid Keil, 74, were found dead along Minister’s Bay, Bacolet, last Saturday. They were chopped to death.
Just a few metres away from the sea view white house, owned by the Keils for over the past decade, was a short dead-end road leading to Minister’s Bay. A few inmates from the Tobago prison were seen clearing overgrown bushes. The inmates were under supervision from several prisons officers. A couple, house-hunting in the area, said they were very concerned after hearing the gruesome and sad news of the German couple’s murder.
About four houses from the Keils’ house was a home last occupied by UK couple Peter Green and his wife, Murium. In August, 2009, they were chopped and left for dead in the house. They miraculously survived and have returned to the UK to live. A resident, who has been living there for the past two years said although most of the houses in the area were vacation homes for tourists, the few residing there permanently were afraid.
“When they are home they are locked indoors. You don’t see them much, especially after the Greens’ attack and now this horrible one.” A construction worker said he has been working in the area for many years and said since the recent murders he had noticed a heavy police presence. “The police come in here very regular, almost every morning and night so the people feel more safe. The residents are living in here but we will see how it goes.”
Anyone with information regarding the Kiels’ murders can call either of the two hotline 635-1649 or 639-2515. A $100,000 reward is being offered for information which can lead to an arrest and conviction.