U.S. Virgin Islands – Virgin Islands Attorney General Gordon C. Rhea announces that 32-year-old fugitive Kaley L. Lund of Colorado was apprehended in Corpus Christi, Texas, on June 19, 2025, and transported back to St. Croix, where she appeared today before the Honorable Yolan Brow-Ross at V.I. Superior Court for her Advice of Rights Hearing. Lund is being charged with Failure to Appear in a Criminal Proceeding and was formally arraigned on the new charge this morning.
Lund must fully secure her $5,500 bail and provide an approved St. Croix address and third-party custodian in order to be released. She now awaits sentencing for her original conviction of involuntary manslaughter.
Lund was extradited to the Virgin Islands to face sentencing for the fatal 2020 vehicular homicide incident on St. Croix. She had been scheduled for sentencing on June 28, 2024, but failed to appear. A bench warrant for her arrest was issued by the Honorable Judge Jomo Meade on July 1, 2024, after she evaded authorities and fled the island.
On June 6, 2025, after an intensive investigation, Assistant Director Gisselle M. Quinones of the V.I. Department of Justice (DOJ) Special Investigations Division received a credible tip and promptly forwarded the information to the U.S. Marshals Service. Lund was apprehended by the U.S. Marshals with the assistance of the Corpus Christi Police Department. During the operation, Lund’s now-husband, and third-party custodian, David Keith Hightower, was also arrested and charged with Hindering Apprehension. Lund was transferred into DOJ custody on June 19 and flown back to the Virgin Islands that same evening and appeared for her Advice of Rights the following day.
Lund pleaded guilty in March 2020 to Involuntary Manslaughter after driving under the influence and crashing her Jeep head-on into another vehicle, killing 25-year-old Marvin Barton and injuring another passenger. At the time of the crash, Lund was 27 and faced multiple charges, including Vehicular Homicide, Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, and Driving Without a License. She was released after posting $5,000 cash bail and was allowed to reside in Florida while awaiting trial.
Rather than face a jury, Lund entered her guilty plea via Zoom on March 7, 2024. Her sentencing—initially set for May 31—was delayed to June 28. In court, her defense attorney, reported being unable to contact her for two weeks, and the Office of Probation confirmed similar difficulties, prompting Judge Meade to issue the warrant and request entry into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database.
Attorney General Rhea commended the successful collaboration that led to Lund’s capture, emphasizing the dedication of all parties involved. “This arrest highlights the commitment of both the Virgin Islands Department of Justice and our federal partners to ensuring that fugitives are held accountable, regardless of how far they try to escape,” stated Attorney General Rhea. “I want to specifically recognize DOJ Assistant Director Gisselle Quinones, Director Jerry Inniss, and the entire team in the Special Investigations Division on St. Thomas and St. Croix for their tireless work and their collaboration with the U.S. Marshals and local law enforcement, which made this achievement possible.” He also expressed gratitude to DOJ Acting Deputy Attorney General Patricia Lynn Pryor and Criminal Division Chief Amie M. Simpson for their contributions.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 20, 2025
Sandra Goomansingh
Media Relations Director
(340) 774-5666 ext. 10105
Email: sandra.goomansingh@doj.vi.gov