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Darien resident Gavin Hapgood, 44, a UBS financial adviser, was arrested for alleged manslaughter after the Royal Anguilla Police Force (RAPF) launched an investigation into the death of Anguilla resident Kenny Mitchel, 27, in April.
He is scheduled to make a return trip to Anguilla in less than two weeks to face the charges.
“As a parent of five children myself, I know, we all know, that Scott did what any parent would do - protect his children from a highly intoxicated and crazed man,” Darien First Selectman Jayme Stevenson said during a rally outside Town Hall recently.
The medical examiner initially ruled Mitchel's causes of death to be prone restraint, a technique that reduces a person's ability to breathe, positional asphyxia and blunt force trauma to the head, neck, and torso. Hapgood was arrested and charged with manslaughter. However, according to reports, Mitchel had a lethal amount of cocaine in his system at the time of his death, and the cause of death was ultimately changed to a drug overdose. Despite the change, Hapgood is still facing charges.
Hapgood was released on a $74,000 bond. A police spokesman reportedly told the Associated Press that Hapgood’s two daughters were in the room when Mitchell was killed.
“As incredibly difficult as this has been, on days like this, I am reminded how much support we have from friends, family and the community,” Hapgood said at his rally. “The community support gives my family strength. We are still in shock that a simple vacation we had been looking forward to turned into a nightmare.”
Kelcey Kintner, a spokesperson representing Hapgood said that the incident was a case of self-defense.
“Attacked without warning in his family’s hotel room by a maintenance worker who was armed and demanding money, Scott Hapgood acted in self-defense to protect the lives of his young daughters and himself.
“Despite false reports to the contrary, the Hapgoods never called maintenance. Neither invited nor expected, the worker showed up unannounced in uniform at the hotel room, claiming he was there to fix a broken sink before carrying out his sudden, violent attack on the family.
Kintner went on to call Hapgood, “a dedicated father and husband and respected member of his community, Scott and the members of his family have been traumatized by the assault they survived and are thankful to be alive.”
The Royal Anguilla Police Force said members of its department were called to the West End of Anguilla shortly after 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, for "an incident that resulted in the death of a resident of Anguilla."
Mitchel was reportedly a maintenance worker at a hotel in the West End of Anguilla where Hapgood and his family were staying.
Hapgood was arrested on Tuesday, April 16 and appeared before the magistrate court the following day, where bail was initially declined. Hapgood was remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison until he was released and allowed back in the country.
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