Manhunt in double murder ends in apparent suicide

EASTCHESTER

Authorities say 42-year-old Joseph Kernizan is believed to have killed himself as police closed in on him Tuesday night.

Kernizan is suspected in the murder of 38-year-old Tracy Bennett, his ex-girlfriend, and popular reggae singer Wayne Hamilton outside a Bronx motel about 3:15 a.m. on Saturday.

Hamilton, 50, is also known as Captain Barkey.

Detectives asked for Kernizan to be put on a no-fly list to keep him from fleeing the country and were tracking him. It is believed Kernizan knew authorities were getting close.

NYPD officials are awaiting positive identification of the body from medical officials in Miami-Dade County. ---

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