Email

Print

Jules Vasquez Reporting
48 year old Orson Stephens had been working and living here at the Port Loyola Preschool as a watchman and custodian for about 10 years - but when school opened this morning, his presence was sorely missed.

Michelle Dolmo- Teacher
"It's hard, it is sad, it is a sad day for us. We lost a student, my personal student Trajan Gough in March. So, when I got the phone-call it was shocking and it took me back to that place that I will never want to visit again. Everybody relied and depended on him, he was hard working, very dependable as I could say. Also, he was not only a night and day security but he was also a colleague of ours. He will be missed."

He was killed on Saturday night - right here on this verandah - apparently for no reason:

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"We have based our investigation that somebody went there- there was a slippers that was found inside of the compound, left by whom we believe to be the suspect. Based on the investigation, the suspect jumped from the back fence of the pre-school; that is more or less where the slippers were found."

Jules Vasquez, reporter
"Is there any known reason why he was targeted? A 48 year old working man who's basically a watchman, there is no robbery element."

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Up to know we cannot establish a motive and the reason why he was shot."

Jules Vasquez
"So, might it somewhat resemble the one that happened with the delivery man 20 hours earlier in that it was just a murder for the sake of murder?"

ASP Alejandro Cowo
"Yes, that is what we suspect."

His sister, Gwen Jones who got him the job and would share weekly Sunday lunches with him. She confirms that he was killed for no reason at all:

Gwen Jones- Sister of deceased
"I really can't say why someone would want to kill my brother but all I know is that he was chanced out of his life. All that my brother does is take care of his children, dedicate himself to his job, does maintenance on bicycles- everybody says, 'oh, I just get my bike fixed by Orson.' What I would like to say to that person is that God is not asleep. God said leave vengeance to him and that is what we are going to do. I will see my brother again, I remember when they called me when the police came for me to come and identify the body. That was the hardest thing for me to do. I had to bring myself together, compose myself to go because every Sunday, Orson eats with me. We were close. My brother isn't involved in any gang, he is not affiliated with any gang, my brother doesn't really mess around with people. When you come to do whatever you want he gets it done and that's it. You would always see him just him and his son just sitting in that yard."

Michelle Dolmo- Teacher
"The principal asked for our opinion on someone we could trust so we could replace him but that is hard. That is a hard question because when you hire someone it is not based on whatever they can do, you become a family, you become one, you rely on each other, everybody has their role to play and it is not easy to just replace someone like that."

But even in murder there are small mercies:

Gwen Jones- Sister of deceased
"The only thing I am happy for is that his son, who was always with him, wasn't with him that night. I thank God for that. His son just started primary school today, he is five years old; my brother had four children and a grandson."

As you heard Stephens was a father and grandfather. Police have no suspects.