Four days after more than 10,000 Seventh-day Adventists marched against violence through the streets of Kingston on Nov. 6, a student from the church’s institution, Northern Caribbean University (NCU) in Mandeville is dead. His body was found abandoned near the main highway leading into the city.

Joseph Burrowes, 22, a third-year student from the Bahamas who lived near the campus, went out Saturday evening, Nov. 6 to a nearby fast food restaurant to buy corn for his young daughter, said Rhoma Tomlinson, public relations director for NCU. He made a call to his wife, which made her suspicious and concerned. The next day his car was found abandoned two kilometers from the restaurant.

“So far the police have not made any major breakthrough in the case, so it’s quite a mystery what has happened,” said Tomlinson, in a telephone interview.

“This has been terribly devastating for our university, faculty, staff and students,” said Tomlinson.

After news of Burrowes’ death reached the campus, university president Dr. Herbert Thompson held an impromptu worship service on Nov. 10.  Thompson urged students to pick up where Burrowes had left off.

“The lesson in all of this is .... to make certain that the privilege of you being here translates into a readiness to do what God calls you to do. It would be a terrible waste if his passing has taught you nothing.”

Tomlinson said the institution has not seen this type of crime affect any of its students in its 70-year history.  Even though the tragedy did not happen on campus, the university has employed additional security.

Dr. Patrick Allen, president for the church in the West Indies, urged students and faculty at the Nov. 10 meeting to get up and take a vocal stand against crime and violence.

Burrowes is survived by wife Tammie, who is also a student at NCU, and their two-year old daughter.