I had a friend who asked for size 13 work boots. A tall guy, lived up Villa La Cage lane.

I finally found a pair. And thankful as he was when they showed up, he said a faint pray of thanks, or to hoping they would fit, the size was not really geared for his foot. But he took them anyway. I can't say what their final disposition was, but I did not care. And maybe he wore them, for the ones he had from Sav-la-Mar were expensive and did not last long.

Instead I was more interested in finding a size 14 someday. Low and behold, that day came. His wife Laverne made sure that these got to him, and I never actually saw him wearing them but I image he did. Good work boots for someone who wanted work boots for the occasional jobs he was able to land.

As time went on, I lucked out at the local flea market, and once even found a great pair of brand name sneakers at the local auction. Paid $17, since someone else bid 16. He too was a big man and I had taken notice of the price of shoes and sneakers so I knew I must win them. Plus most stores stop at size 13 anyway.

I still have 2 or 3 of the items here in Pennsylvania, and 1 or 2 things on the island.

Which leads me to express something I find hard to believe. (or 2 things)

I looked at the 3 Jamaican newspapers online tonight, and three message boards. 4 if I include happy news.

I searched (or reviewed listings) for his name, or for the words we don't want to hear; dead, murdered.

Nothing. Not one single mention. Of course I included Negril in the searches.

Whereas I got a call on Boxing Day, a message actually, asking if I had read about it on the Internet. I hadn't, so my phone call tonight to his brothers wife (meaning this is NOT conjecture) yielded the details that on Wednesday, on his way down the lane with $ to buy cashpot and some chicken feed and his cell phone, someone must have (?) been waiting in the bushes. (That part is conjecture.) He was discovered still with his phone and $, so robbery must not have been a motive.

No other details are known. I did not ask HOW he was murdered. I'll find out what I can when I go down next week. WHY we may never know

I should not have to include that I am not making this up to diss Negril or the island. Yet truely, mi no believe this didn't even make the newspaper.

Would anyone have prefered if the subject line was "another murder in Negril"?

If I tell you that his daughter was the one who was murdered in Feb (4 others also shot) and the newspapers specualted that she was involved (as a runner/casher) of a lottery scheme, might someone think these were related? I hope not.

If anyone has information, you can share whatever here or to me privately using my email.

If it didn't make the press, do the police even care?