30469: Hermatin (News)Suspect in slaying caught at consulate (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: leonie hermantin <lhermantin@hotmail.com>

Miami Herald


Posted on Thu, May. 24, 2007
Suspect in slaying caught at consulate
BY DAVID OVALLE

Claiming his girlfriend had stolen all his IDs, the penniless bearded man who 
showed up at the Haitian consulate wanting to return to the island drew 
immediate suspicion.
He was, authorities say, actually a New York fugitive wanted for murdering his 
ex-girlfriend and slashing the throat of her 12-year-old son.
Jacques Dorcinvil, 31, was arrested Thursday after some tense moments inside 
the Haitian consulate in Miami.
He was discovered by a consul assistant who Googled his name and read a news 
account of the killings.
U.S. State Department agents and Miami police captured him, though initially 
they couldn't enter the building because, technically, it's on Haitian soil.
''At first he was denying everything, that he was the wrong person,'' said 
Miami Officer Marcos Muñoz, who arrested him.
``He was saying this country stinks and he wants to go back to Haiti.''
MURDER IN BROOKLYN
New York police say Dorcinvil was a jealous ex-lover who used a kitchen knife 
to mortally wound Claudette Marcellus, 39, early on May 4 in Brooklyn.
He also tried killing Marcellus' son, Brian, who witnessed the murder, police 
say. But Brian survived and identified Dorcinvil.
Detectives have video surveillance of the blood-covered Dorcinvil leaving the 
woman's apartment building, according to New York press accounts.
Last week, Dorcinvil showed up at the Haitian consulate in Miami, 259 SW 13th 
St., with a strange story. He claimed his name was Mark Henry, he was from New 
York and his girlfriend had stolen his belongings.
''He had no documentation at all. No ID. No nothing and he wanted travel 
documents to go to Haiti,'' said Haitian Consul General Ralph Latortue.
The story began falling apart when consulate staff called the man's mother in 
Haiti and noticed her last name was different. Employees lent him a few bucks, 
telling him to come back this week.
On Thursday, he returned. A chatty consulate staffer talked him into revealing 
his true last name. One of Latortue's assistants ran his name through the 
Internet.
A New York Daily News article popped up with this headline: ``Bloodbath! Mom 
killed, boy slashed.''
PHONE CALLS
Latortue called the State Department, responsible for diplomatic security, and 
Miami police. While Dorcinvil sat in an upstairs waiting room, about 50 
employees and Haitian citizens seeking help were in the office Tuesday morning.
''Anybody can get in with a weapon. We have no security and we have no money to 
hire a security guard,'' Latortue said. ``We are lucky he didn't have a gun. He 
could have taken anyone here hostage.''
Staff members gave Dorcinvil about $50 and hoped he'd leave the consulate: It 
would be smoother if Dorcinvil was arrested outside the embassy on U.S. soil.
Latortue walked outside to help officers ID the fugitive.
But sensing something was amiss, Dorcinvil refused to leave, asking if there 
was a back entrance.
Fearing a prolonged standoff, Latortue gave agents permission to enter the 
consulate.
Dorcinvil wore plaid shorts, a black adidas T-shirt and matching brand 
sneakers.
He had grown out his hair somewhat and now sported a beard, but he was still 
recognizable.
He also carried a long piece of glass under his shirt as a weapon, Latortue 
said.
He swore his name was Mark Nelson, Muñoz said.
''At first he was denying everything, that he was the wrong person,'' Muñoz 
said. ``He also said that two people at the Haitian consulate would lose their 
jobs after he made a phone call to Port-au-Prince.''
Miami Herald staff writer Jacqueline Charles contributed to this report.


© 2007 Miami Herald Media Company. All Rights 
Reserved.http://www.miamiherald.com
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