‘A memory that never leaves’

Seven years after Jean-Pierre Rhone was brutally murdered and buried in a shallow grave, his family remains deeply hurt and haunted by his death, which they describe as a profound betrayal and a source of immense disappointment.

Family members, in their victim impact statements submitted to the court ahead of the killer’s sentencing, recounted the unbearable grief, betrayal, and lasting trauma caused by the senseless act.

The killer, 26-year-old teacher Shemar Clarke, was on Tuesday sentenced to 30 years for murder, four years and 11 months for simple larceny, and two years for preventing the lawful burial of a corpse. Justice Carolyn Tie-Powell however deducted six months from each sentence for time already spent and ordered that the sentences are to run concurrently.

During the sentencing hearing, Rhone’s mother, Cerita, comforted her husband, Patrick, and their daughter, Toni-Ann, who wept openly. Following the sentencing, the trio huddled together in the halls of the court as the tears continued to flow. Clarke’s pregnant wife had also broken down in tears.

However, for Rhone’s sister, Chantal, the nightmare began on October 17, 2018, when her brother went missing.

Instead of boarding a flight to start an internship in New York, she joined her family in searching for him at Fort Rocky, one of Jean-Pierre’s favourite places to reflect and fly his drone. The search quickly turned to horror when the family discovered his medicine case empty and filled with sand.

They did not find him that day, but returned two days later, where Chantal witnessed the unimaginable: digging through the sand to find her brother’s lifeless body, wrapped in a sheet.

“The smell of decay, the sight of his body ... it is a memory that never leaves me,” Chantal said in court. “For weeks, I could not eat. Sleep became impossible. Every time I closed my eyes, the scene replayed over and over in my head.”

She revealed that the trauma had left her diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, severely affecting her daily life, decision-making, and sense of safety.

Her sister, Toni-Ann, whose life has also been shattered, described the betrayal and shattered trust caused by someone they once considered a friend. She said her brother’s death has left her battling guilt daily.

“I opened my home to him. I believed he was a good person. And when he chose to take my brother’s life, it destroyed my ability to trust anyone again,” she said.

CONSTANT FEAR AND INSOMNIA

Toni-Ann explained how she lived in constant fear while the accused remained out on bail, experiencing insomnia so severe she required medication just to sleep.

“Since my brother’s death, I have lived with trauma that changed the way I function in my daily life. For a long time, I could not eat. I couldn’t eat meat. I couldn’t prepare food. The smell of food, especially meat or seafood, brought back the memory of finding my brother’s body. The scent of decay still clings to my memory, and even today, certain smells take me right back to that moment,” she said.

She also explained that her mental health has suffered and that she has developed a deep fear of people, and an even deeper fear of being harmed the way her brother was.

“I avoided driving for years because I feared being kidnapped or killed. I could not travel freely or even be in a vehicle without feeling like I was in danger,” she added.

According to Toni-Ann, this crime did not just take a life; it destroyed trust, safety, peace of mind, and faith.

“I questioned God. I questioned the world. I questioned humanity. My entire family was broken by this. And the question that torments me still is: why?

“There was no reason for this. My family always treated him with kindness. If he needed help or money, he could have asked. Instead, he planned and carried out something that was unnecessary, cruel, and devastating.”

Her parents also spoke of the deep disappointment and heartbreak inflicted by Clarke’s actions.

“We lost not just a son, but a part of our lives. A future we hoped to share with him was stolen,” said Patrick.

They described Jean-Pierre as a talented, driven, and unifying presence in the family and the family business, New Era Fencing Limited, and reflected on the countless ways he enriched the lives of those around him.

“He was a designer, a planner, an implementer, a marketing genius, a transporter and a human resource personnel. He was the life of the party. He was a family unifier,” they shared, noting that he had already served 10 years in the business and was instrumental in orchestrating several major company milestones.

A PAINFUL VOID

From missed weddings and the births of nieces and nephews to everyday joys that will never be shared, the Rhones described the void left by Jean-Pierre’s death.

“For his mom, he was her transporter, travelling partner, and confidant. For one year after his death, she couldn’t drive herself. For me, his dad, I lost my heir, my hero, my success story, my route to early retirement, which makes me more disappointed than ever, as I wanted to spend more time with my grandkids,” the father said.

Rhone was not only loved by his family, but was adored by his customers, who saw him as a well-mannered and reliable businessman.

“The truth of it all is, if Mr Shemar Clarke had remained with the company in good faith and asked my son for a loan, he would have gotten it.

“Many staff are at the company for over 20 years. They came in as young as Mr Clarke and grew in the Operations Department. Even our labourer has bought himself a car, so I am sure Mr Clarke would have been able to do so with patience, had he not put such an evil, conniving plan together just to get a car,” Patrick added.

Despite the overwhelming grief, the family expressed hope in their faith. Chantal said she looks forward to seeing her brother again, in accordance with her beliefs as a Jehovah’s Witness.

“He had dreams, plans, and goals that were stolen. The pain will never fully leave us, but I pray for justice, and that one day, Jehovah will restore what has been taken from us,” she said.

Clarke, who since committing the murder had married and become a father, had lured Rhone from his home, strangled him to death in Port Royal, stripped him naked, wrapped his body in a sheet, and buried him under sand. He also took the vehicle Rhone was driving, attempted to sell it, and used the stolen bank card and cell phone.

tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com