(CMR) In the past twenty-four hours since Aric Matthew Brooks was found unresponsive at his mother's home in Frank Sound; an outpouring of love and condolences has flooded social media in response to the untimely passing of the 28-year-old immigration officer.
Aric is being fondly remembered by so many as a young man with a promising future who succumbed to the stresses of an abusive relationship at the hands of his new bride. The marl road is buzzing with kind words and condolences for his parents and remaining siblings; who are well-known members of the community. However, many are equally asking how did this happen to such a vibrant, kind and loving young man.
The sordid tale first came to our attention a number of months ago when his mother was distraught to realize her son was caught in an abusive relationship as the victim. At the time, CMR assumed the authorities would intervene and there would not be much more to report on the matter. We were keen to not expose and embarrass him any further with the personal details that had emerged. Sadly more tragedy was to come.
The community has rallied behind his family and is now wondering how after only 12 months of marriage things ended so tragically.
Last March he secretly married, Kenia Yadira Alonso Solis, from La Ceiba, Honduras in a beach ceremony despite being cautioned by many to proceed cautiously about taking the relationship to such a serious level. His family was unaware of this union.
One Cayman Marl Road source indicated that he told them “I love her” believing that love would be enough to overcome any irreconcilable differences – unfortunately, that was not the case.
His mother, Stephanie Brooks, also reached out to social media to express her feelings of loss and despair since his passing with multiple posts. His father is Cayman Airways pilot Mr. Arnold Brooks.
January 8 he was taken the hospital around 7:30 pm. after being attacked by her with a bottle. According to our sources, he was refusing to bring her multiple children here from Honduras and that resulted in him being assaulted while attempting to fill up his car at the local gas station.
His injuries were extensive and she was charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm as reported in the local media. He endured facial and neck lacerations. What the rest of the local media was unaware of was that this story was much more deeply woven and sinister than the simple reporting led people to believe. Read more here.
This assault was a serious culmination of an abusive relationship from the onset. The physical and psychological abuse was apparent to many and allegedly also coupled with infidelity on her part. In fact, CMR understands from multiple sources that he had confided in his co-workers at immigration that he was in an abusive relationship and they saw signs of it including black eyes and bruises.
One concerned mother said:
“I know for a fact he came from a loving home and his mother would have protected him in any way that she could have. It's very sad that this young man was conned by her and was unable to get the professional help and support he needed to safely get out. As a mother, I would have taken matters into my own hands and dealt with her. It does make me wonder how many other people we have here under a fake ID?”
After this assault, she was arrested by the local authorities and it was discovered that she was here under a fake alias when she entered Cayman on a work permit as a barmaid. According to her Facebook page, the 30-year-old resides in Savannah – but the authorities have her address listed as a location in East End – much closer to the victim.
Our sources indicate she arrived in Cayman over ten years ago under an assumed name with accompanying fraudulent papers. It was also discovered that she was already married to someone else in the Cayman Islands and as a result was charged with bigamy and assault. Immigration revoked her Rights to Work Certificate after confirming she had committed bigamy.
There was also a restraining order in place after the assault, but like many abuse victims, it appears he was still was in contact with her.
The wife was released from custody last week on Thursday and was set to be deported after a court appearance this coming week. However, an alarming video has surfaced where she can be heard taunting him to say he loves her as he is on his knees.
Eyewitnesses said that they were both at a local Spanish nightclub in George Town on Friday evening and she was seen dancing and kissing up multiple men – allegedly taunting him. It’s obvious from messages we have he did not arrive home until after 4:-00 am. Shortly thereafter he was found non-responsive.
Oddly, her Facebook page has no mention at all of Aric before Saturday; after his death – when she updated her profile picture as their wedding photo.
Despite all of this she has not yet been deported and remains in the Cayman Islands.
The police have no concluded their investigation and certainly, the most prudent approach is to wait for an official cause of death from them. CMR contacted her via her Facebook page and she claims that his family did not want him to be happy and the police are aware of that. We do know for a fact that Aric was attempting to move on with his life and had recently started dating someone else.
CMR remains committed to bringing the public any additional updates on this case.
RCIPS Response:
The Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) in a release at around 11:41 am confirmed that a 28-year-old man had been pronounced dead.
According to reports from the RCIPS, just before 6:30 am on Saturday police and other emergency services were dispatched by the 9-1-1 Communications Centre to an address in Frank Sound, North Side.
It was reported that a person was in distress at a residential address in the vicinity of Frenchman Drive.
A 28-year-old-man of Bodden Town was transported to the Cayman Islands Hospital for emergency treatment but was pronounced dead just after 8 AM.
CMR contributors extend our condolences to Aric's family and friends.
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