The body being removed from the home.
ST. EUSTATIUS--On Monday, July 13th, word spread like wildfire during the course of Monday night that a resident, Mr Hubert “Sonny’ Schmidt of Rosemary Lane was found dead in his home.
The body at the Salem cemetery.
Large crowd at the Salem cemetery for the midnight burial.
Due to the advanced state of decomposition, which was accelerated by the high heat and the time it took to discover the body, arrangements were made for Mr Schmidt to be buried that same night.
Commissioner Rueben Merkman, Director of the Social Domain Carol Jack-Roosberg, members of the Queen Beatrix Medical Centre morgue, and other health department employees were all seen at the residence.
The Caribbean Netherlands Fire department was called to assist in removing the body from the home. The fire Department entered the home while using their breathing apparatus and protective equipment to be able to remain inside the room to safely secure the body before bringing it out for burial.
Persons on the scene spoke of having seen the deceased on Saturday, but after this sighting no one had seen the gentleman, as he resided alone. The removal and burial went smoothly as it was a team effort, between the Caribbean Netherlands Police Force, KPCN, Fire Department, Health Department, and the victim's family and community.
As word spread of the gentleman's death and the planned midnight burial, the public came out to show their support, as some persons were relatives of the deceased. To prevent the body from passing through the residential area, the body was taken through Rosemary Lane via the Mansion road area towards the Salem burial ground for his final resting place.
At Salem Cemetery, the team was busy digging the grave. Later, Rev. Telford Matthew of the Bethel Methodist church, of which the deceased was a member, conducted the burial service. As the evening went on, the crowd got larger. Normally, the deceased family members are buried in the Dutch Reformed burial ground, but because of limited space for digging, this was not possible.
Many of the deceased family and extended family members were all out in large numbers sharing the burial, while relatives and extended families that were abroad were informed of Schmidt’s passing.
The KPCN said during the night of Monday, the 13th of July, the central control room received a report of a deceased person found in a residence on Rosemary Lane. Police officers attended the scene. Following an examination by the forensic physician, it was determined that there were no indications of a criminal offence. The person died of natural causes. Schmidt leaves to mourn his children, his siblings and extended family.
Schmidt was the son of the late Albert and Elaine Schmidt, preceded him in death.
