The case remains under investigation. Police are requesting anyone with information to contact Detective Martin Matthews of the Rhode Island State Police.
Next, Sam skipped down to“It’s a Very Sad Day”—Details in “Princess” Killing Emerge in Death of Dr. Jonathan TylerIii
After a prominent psychiatrist was murdered in his office at the exclusive Maynard-King Center on Halloween night, police spokesperson Armand Braga stated that there are no suspects, and the investigation continues.
A nurse at the center greeted a reporter in the lobby. “It’s a very sad day,” she said. “Dr. Tyler was loved by patients and staff alike. Our hearts go out to his wife and stepdaughter.” The tearful nurse declined to give her name.
Fear reigns throughout the twenty-five-acre hospital campus. Witnesses report seeing someone dressed as a masked phantom leaving the Norton Two Unit shortly after the 911 call reporting screams was made.
“The screams were chilling,” one witness reported.
“Bloodcurdling,” said another, who added, “Shrieking, pure terror. Poor Dr. Tyler. He only wanted to help people.”
“Can you imagine how terrified he must have been, being stabbed to death by a princess? A wicked princess?” one distraught patient asked.
Norton Two is a locked unit serving patients suffering from a variety of trauma-induced illnesses. Most of the physicians at Maynard-King kept offices in a different building, but several staff members said that Dr. Tyler preferred to be with his patients.
“None of the Norton Two residents are suspects at this time,” spokesperson Braga stated.
The medical examiner’s report reveals that Dr. Tyler died of exsanguination. “A long and deep, oblique incision was found on the front of the neck. There were no defense or hesitation injuries. Death was caused by a homicidal cut by a right-handed person standing behind the victim, using a bladed weapon such as a knife or a razor.”
The weapon has not been found. However, a mask that is believed to be the murderer’s was found near the cemetery on hospital grounds.
“No one could survive an attack like that,” a witness said. “Everyone here is freaked out. If it could happen to Dr. Tyler, it could happen to anyone. They say the killer isn’t a patient, but who else could it be? It happened on a locked ward. There’s no getting in or out of there. Except staff. Scary to think the killer princess could be someone who works here.”
“Why was she wearing a white dress?” asked a staff psychiatrist who requested anonymity. “The answer to that question is excruciatingly obvious. The killer wanted to wear his blood. A throat slashing would cause propulsive arterial spray. Blood would have covered the killer, turned a white dress scarlet. This is a very violent individual. Was Jonathan targeted, or was this a thrill kill? We don’t know. I have encountered individuals to whom killing is the entire point. Murder from which pleasure is derived. But I doubt that in this case. I would say that passion played a role, passion directed very specifically at Jonathan.”
Dr. Tyler’s widow, Belinda Quinn Tyler, had no comment. Police reports indicate that at the time of her husband’s killing, she was in Black Hall, Connecticut, over an hour away from Narragansett. She was with her brother, Clark Quinn, and an unnamed childhood friend. Law enforcement sources state that Mrs. Tyler and Mr. Quinn are not suspects in Dr. Tyler’s murder.
The investigation continues, and anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Martin Matthews of the Rhode Island State Police.
The last article Sam read was Jonathan Tyler’s obituary. It listed his accomplishments and awards, said that he left his wife, Belinda, and a stepdaughter—again, the child’s name was not mentioned—and that he was buried in the Maynard-King cemetery.
That struck Sam as odd—a cemetery with the same name as the hospital? Was it the spot where the holographic mask was found that Halloween night? The article stated that many of the dead buried there had been patients or staff. It also said that the cemetery was the only part of the hospital property that was open to the public.
Sam closed her laptop again. Did the police investigating Belinda’s murder know that her husband had died because someone had slashed his throat—the same method that had killed her? Did Kate and Conor know?
It couldn’t be a coincidence. Sam stood up from the lounge chair by the lovely pool, waved to Hadley and CeCe, and hurried to find Kate, to give this evidence to Conor. When she got to the top of the stairs, she saw Lincoln talking to Bernard’s girlfriend, Miranda. They seemed deep in conversation, but when Lincoln saw Sam watching them, they stepped apart, as if they didn’t want to be seen together.
“Hey, Sam,” he said as Miranda hurried away.
“Are you leaving?” she asked, gesturing at the overnight bag slung over his shoulder.
“Yeah, I’m checking out,” he said.
“Did the police give Maeve back her stuff?” she asked.
“Most of it,” he said.
“Mainly, she wanted her address book,” Sam said. “Did she get it?”
Lincoln seemed not to hear the question. “She’s staying in case Kate needs her,” he said. “How about you?”
“Me?” Sam asked.
“Yeah,” he said. “How long are you staying?”
“Our reservations are until tomorrow. We were supposed to have the big fireworks tonight.”
