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| American Tourist Murdered in Turks and Caicos |
By Donald Wood, TravelPulse
An American tourist visiting the Turks and Caicos Islands was murdered after her body was found Tuesday.
Newsday reported that Marie Kuhnla was reported missing in Turks and Caicos on October 15, the local police department said on its Facebook page Monday night. Her body was found in the bushes near the Club Med resort the following day about 7:05 a.m., and she was pronounced dead a short time later, police said.
"We are all in disbelief and shock and stunned," said her brother Peter John Chetuck, 57, of Mount Sinai. "She was a terrific wife, a terrific mother, a terrific family member."
Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have offered their support to Kuhnla’s family as they continue their investigation. The United States Department of State is also aware of the murder and offered condolences to the family and friends of the victim.
Kuhnla was staying at Club Med during her visit to the Caribbean island. In January, the State Department warned travelers to "exercise increased caution" in Turks and Caicos.
“While I understand the focus of this story is on the circumstances surrounding my mother's death, I would like to take a moment to focus on her life,” Kuhnla's son, Rick Kuhnla Jr. said in a statement. “If she saw someone who needed help she would help them ... My mom frequently visited her elderly mother, taking her out to eat and keeping her company. She went back to school later in life to earn her law degree and spent over 15 years as a public defender, providing legal assistance to those who could not afford it.”
“She was a wonderful woman who brightened the day of everyone who knew her and many who didn't. She may be gone but the impact she had on the world and inspiration she provided most certainly is not,” Kuhnla continued.
