Guyanese detective who captured 1969-1970 serial killer dies at 98

BY: Michael Jordan

Retired Police Detective Corporal James Browne died in the United States recently at the age of 98.

Born in 1926, Browne was among the team of detectives who were involved in the manhunt for a serial killer. The Crime Chief at the time Paul Britton.

During 1969 and 1970, several children were brutally murdered but it took detectives some time to realize that there was a serial killer on the loose who was targeting children. During that period, except for the killer’s first victim, all the other children were boys.

The killer struck in every county and parents lived in constant terror for their children’s safety. Acting on a tip, Mr. Browne, then a detective constable, tracked the child murderer to an area in Charlestown.

He managed to wrest a cutlass from the suspect and apprehend him. Detective Browne assisted in getting a detailed confession from the suspect, who also led them to areas where he had buried his last two victims.

Constable Browne received an on-the-spot promotion for his actions. Arrangements are being made to have Detective Browne laid to rest in Guyana. BIG Smith News Watch expresses condolences to the relatives and friends of James Brown.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Mr. Browne’s passing comes while BIG Smith News Watch is in the process of producing a documentary on the case of the 1969-1970 murders of the children. Numerous interviews were done with relatives of the deceased children and retired detective Browne. That documentary is expected to be released later this year.