Johnny Adelberto Encarnacion, 49, known as "Kountry," was last seen on November 15, 2021, at the Bassin Triangle Apartments in Christiansted, St. Croix, Virgin Islands. The U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department is handling the investigation into his disappearance, which has since been reclassified as a homicide. Encarnacion is described as a Hispanic male with a brown complexion, standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing approximately 160 pounds. He has black hair, brown eyes, a goatee, and distinctive tattoos on his chest, left shoulder, and right shoulder. He also has scars on his face and nose and was known to wear a gold rope chain with a pendant.
Family members reported Encarnacion missing, stating that he does not suffer from any mental health issues. He was known to frequent several areas in St. Croix, including the Alphonso "Piggy" Gerard Complex the D. Hamilton Jackson Terrace downtown Christiansted, and Estate Peter's Rest. When he was last seen, Encarnacion was operating an off-black Dodge pickup truck. The truck had a missing right passenger door mirror, a missing right rear passenger taillight, and a dent extending from the left taillight to the left rear wheel well.
In December 2021, investigators announced they were treating Encarnacion's disappearance as a homicide. This determination was based on "biological evidence" and the fact that Encarnacion, who is described as family-oriented, had not contacted his mother or brothers, with whom he was very close. Police conducted extensive searches, including the entire south shore of St. Croix. They also appealed to the public for any video surveillance footage that may have captured his black Dakota pickup truck on the route from the Peter's Rest area to Frederiksted, where his vehicle was located.
A significant development in the case occurred in February 2024, when the V.I. Police Department announced the extradition of Chayanne Trinidad Acosta from Tarrant County, Texas. Detectives investigating Encarnacion's disappearance gathered information that led to an arrest warrant for Acosta for illegal firearm possession. Acosta was apprehended in Texas on November 6, 2023, and transported back to St. Croix on February 8, 2024. He was arrested for carrying a firearm openly or concealed as a felon and for possession of ammunition. While this arrest was a result of the investigation into Encarnacion's disappearance, authorities have not publicly stated that Acosta is a suspect in his death.
Last Seen: Nov 15, 2021
