Jamaican Authorities Investigate the Murder of Two American Missionaries

Heather Sells : May 3, 2016
CBN News

Authorities say one of the men was found with his hands bound and both were severely beaten. The two were traveling to check on the foundation of a house that a short-term missions team planned to construct next week.

[CBN News] Former colleagues of the missionaries slain in Jamaica say they're satisfied that the authorities are doing all they can to investigate the deaths of 48-year-old Randy Hentzel and 53-year-old Harold Nichols. (Photos via Facebook/Christian Post)

Rev. John Heater, the executive director of TEAMS for Medical Missions, traveled to Jamaica Monday to assist in the investigation. "The police are doing an excellent job," he told CBN News, "the government is very involved and everyone wants answers."

Investigators are working to identify suspects and a possible motive. "Hopefully, there will be a break in the investigation before too long," said Heater.

Both Hentzel and Nichols worked for TEAMS for Medical Missions as full-time missionaries. Their bodies were discovered over the week-end along a rural road where they were traveling on motorbikes. Authorities say one of the men was found with his hands bound and both were severely beaten. The two were traveling to check on the foundation of a house that a short-term missions team planned to construct next week.

Ray Shive, former director of TEAMS, said the two were aware of on-going violence in the country but had no reason to be especially fearful for their safety. Shive said that Nichols was highly regarded and loved by the Jamaicans. When there were riots, said Shive, "he would walk out in the middle and calm the people."

Nichols and his wife worked with TEAMS in Jamaica for 12 years, overseeing a children's ministry and working with short-term missions teams to build homes for the poor.

Hentzel and his family served for 6 years in Jamaica as missionaries with TEAMS. He created and organized a Bible institute to train pastors in the teaching of the Scriptures.