Jamaicans were left reeling after two suspected suicides occurred within a 24-hour period – one at The University of the West Indies, Mona, and the other involving a police officer in St Elizabeth. Twenty-year-old UWI student Victoria Hanley-Brown was found dead in her George Alleyne Hall dorm room early Thursday morning, prompting grief and counselling support on campus. Less than a day earlier, Constable Arnold Wilson, assigned to the Half-Way Tree Police Station, was discovered hanging at his home while reportedly on leave mourning a relative. 

UWI student found dead in dorm room

Jamaica Gleaner/17 Oct 2025/Andre Williams/Staff Reporter 

RESIDENTS AT the George Alleyne Hall at The University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, were offered counselling services yesterday following the suspected suicide of a female student.

The deceased has been identified as 20-year-old Victoria Hanley-brown. Her body was discovered around 7 a.m. in her room on Block 17 of the hall. She was reportedly last seen alive around 1 a.m. on Thursday.

A friend is believed to have found the body and raised the alarm. The police were subsequently called to the scene, and movement in the area was temporarily restricted.

The authorities say CCTV footage will be critical to their ongoing investigation, and an expedited postmortem examination is being sought.

Campus Registrar Dr Donovan Stanberry described the incident as deeply unfortunate. He noted that the university promptly activated its counselling and chaplaincy units to provide emotional support for affected students.

He said the immediate focus was the wellbeing of fellow students and to engage with the family of the deceased.

When The Gleaner visited the campus, groups of students could be seen consoling one another, visibly shaken by the incident. Attempts to speak with the hall’s chairperson were unsuccessful.

One student described the tragedy as a stark reminder that many young people may be suffering in silence.

“Police are on the block now, but they aren’t saying anything or letting anyone in … . This is a serious matter because people are suffering in silence, students included,” the student said.

Hanley-brown, who enrolled at The UWI in September 2022, was pursuing a major in marketing with a minor in psychology in the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The St Andrew Central Police are continuing their investigation.

This incident came less than 24 hours after another suspected suicide – this time involving a police officer in St Elizabeth. The officer, Constable Arnold Wilson, assigned to the Half-way Tree Police Station in St Andrew, was reportedly found hanging from a tree in his yard around 5:30 p.m. Wednesday. Preliminary reports suggest that he was on leave following the recent death of a close relative overseas.

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