LUCIEN STRATTON MURDERED

January 2001 Table of Contents

LUCIEN STRATTON MURDERED

One of Abaco's leading citizens was murdered on Monday 18th December while preparing breakfast for his daughters. Lucien Stratton, 82, had been a pioneer in the development of Marsh Harbour from a sleepy little fishing village into the hub of the country's most progressive island.

A small, frail man, Mr Stratton had lost his wife, Euphemia, and eldest son, Van, earlier in the year. Daughter Astrid Stratton, 58, who lived with her father, was awakened shortly after 8.30 am when a man entered the house and attacked them both. 'Mr Lucien', as he was fondly known by the community, was found under a Barbados cherry tree which stood between the main house and Mr Lucien's storage room where he kept his provisions. A rope around his neck indicated strangulation. Astrid Stratton was beaten and her mouth sealed with duct tape. Then Mr Lucien's other daughter Amarylis Key, 60, arrived and was also assaulted, tied up and taped to prevent her calling out.

At one point, after having had her head smashed against a wall several times, Amarylis Key pretended to have fainted. While the intruder was distracted, Mrs Key made her escape and alerted her next door neighbour, Colyn Rees, who quickly notified the police. The assailant had fled by the time police arrived. Mr Lucien's daughters were taken for medical treatment by Trauma One after police had secured the area. CID officers were brought in from Nassau to investigate the murder.

Police are looking for a man, believed to be Haitian, aged 22-30 with thick, broad shoulders, about 5' 9" tall with very dark, smooth skin and about 190-220 lbs in weight. The suspect has a small mouth with a thin top lip and a light coloured spot on the bottom lip.

Lucien Stratton was son of Robert Stratton who came to Abaco from the US as an evangelist and dentist. Mr Lucien served in World War II with the US Navy and also practised dentistry. He founded Sea Breeze Ltd, a construction and road paving concern, along with several other businesses. He was also instrumental in bringing J B Crockett to Abaco. The Crockett Farm brought considerable employment to Abaco.

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