COB Dean of Social and Educational Studies Dr. Thaddeus McDonald was found dead in his Queen’s Street home shortly before 4 pm Friday, apparently bludgeoned to death by an as yet unidentified assailant.
According to a close relative of the Dr. McDonald, his body was discovered lying on a bed. He was allegedly beaten to death with an electrical iron, according to his brother Madison McDonald.
Assistant Superintendent of Police Leon Bethel said the death has been classified as a homicide, but police little else in the way of details on the matter while at the scene.
"[On Friday] sometime around 3:45 pm. We got a call and as a result of that call officers from the Central Division responded to Queen’s Street to a residence. While checking that residence the body of a man was found on the inside," said ASP Bethel, the new officer responsible for homicide.
"It was obvious that he had some injuries to the body and as a result we have launched an investigation into his death. We are classifying it as a homicide and we are at the stage now where we are trying to get all information we can on this individual."
At least two of the victim’s brothers, an assortment of nieces and other relatives were on the scene.
Said the victim’s older brother Brazil McDonald, while on the scene: "We found our brother who had been murdered. The police are handling the situation and that is as much as we can say at this time. You can imagine how the family feels at this time."
According to relatives, it was one of Dr. McDonald’s brothers who made the gruesome discovery.
The relative went to the dean’s residence after college officials reported that Dr. McDonald had failed to report to work.
A number of college officials were on the scene including Executive Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs, Dr. Rhonda Chipman Johnson.
She appeared visibly distressed and noted that she had just visited the deceased on Sunday, at his home.
College of The Bahamas President, Dr Janyne Hodder, said the tertiary level institution is in "deep mourning."
"This is indeed a very tragic moment for The College of the Bahamas, Dean McDonald was an academic, a faculty member and a professor of psychology," she said.
"He has been with the college for 20 years, responsible for teaching countless numbers of young Bahamians, responsible now as Dean for Social Sciences Education and was the man helping to bring our law program to the Bahamas."
According to reports, Dean McDonald celebrated his 59 birthday this week.
His Queen’s Street residence is just a stone’s throw away from the U.S. Embassy
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