A New York City accountant sent desperate text messages pleading for help shortly before she was murdered during a birthday trip to Jamaica, according to her family.
Chilling Final Messages
Melissa Kerry Samnath died from blunt force trauma to the head on April 29, her 35th birthday, at Cornwall Regional Hospital in St. James Parish, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) confirmed. Hours before her death, she sent her family a chilling WhatsApp message asking for assistance.
"I need you to call the cops. Look at my location. It is a pink house," the message read, as revealed by her niece, Janice Wynter, to the Jamaica Gleaner.
Details of the Incident
Samnath, a Jamaican national and US citizen, had travelled to the island to celebrate her birthday with her husband, Dane Watson, whom she married in December 2025. According to police, Watson dropped Samnath at the hospital but fled after placing her in a wheelchair.
Medical staff alerted authorities after Samnath was pronounced dead. A post-mortem examination on May 6 determined her cause of death as multiple blunt force trauma to the head.
Investigation and Suspect
On Sunday, the JCF named Watson a person of interest and sought public assistance in locating him. Investigators reportedly found surveillance footage showing the couple walking from Samnath's Airbnb to Watson's residence, with Watson carrying her suitcase, just hours before her death.
"That's where they also found her belongings, her suitcase, her purse, her iPad and her duffel bag," her sister, Liza Samnath, told Television Jamaica. A neighbour told The Gleaner that police discovered pools of blood in Watson's home. "There was a whole heap of blood in his house in Norwood. He beat her badly, man. Beat her in her head," the resident said.
Family's Account
Wynter claimed that Watson's mother contacted their family, saying her son confessed to the murder. "His mother called to tell us she got a phone call from him, saying he killed her and dropped her off in a wheelchair at the hospital. He didn't even have the audacity to take her into the hospital," Wynter told the local newspaper.
Investigators urge Watson to surrender at the Freeport Police Station in St. James or the nearest precinct. Anyone with information is asked to contact Freeport Police.
Remembering Melissa
Wynter described her aunt as "one of the most loving persons ever." "My aunt was very helpful and family-oriented. It has been hard on us. We can't understand why he did this to her," she said.
Samnath's family has launched a GoFundMe to cover funeral expenses. "Melissa was a strong, loving, and unforgettable woman whose warmth touched everyone around her. She loved traveling, exploring new places, and spending time with the people she cared for most. Her loss has left a deep pain in our family that words cannot fully express," the fundraiser stated.
