An outpouring of stories from Jamaican women online has revealed a troubling pattern of alleged harassment, stalking, and intimidation linked to a man many identify as Orville Dietrich.
A woman, who identified herself as Sage, also came forward, saying she was one of many women who had allegedly been harassed or threatened by the same man. She stated that she eventually learned his identity as Orville Dietrich and said the realisation made the experience more frightening for her.
She alleged that she had been cornered by him in a dark parking lot and expressed fear over what could have happened if she had refused to engage with him. Sage claimed that she found his criminal record online, which reportedly includes rape, kidnapping, and sexual assault over the years. She said, despite these serious charges, he had been granted bail repeatedly and that the most recent case had been discontinued by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
“He’s a free man,” she said. “Bailed out every single time.”
In addition to this account, many women flood the comments of a social media post, sharing their experiences with the man. In the comments, women say the man frequently approaches them in public places, including Devon House, Half-Way Tree, UWI Mona, Sovereign Centre, Manor Park, Liguanea, supermarkets, plazas, and along roadways. Many allege that he does not take no for an answer and becomes increasingly forceful when rejected.
Several women say they felt pressured to give him their phone number out of fear. Some explained that when they blocked his number, he allegedly contacted them from other numbers. One woman wrote that she was so shaken after an encounter that she begged an IT worker to change or delete her phone number entirely. Another said she altered her daily routine after the interaction because she no longer felt safe.
Women described being followed, “walked down,” or driven after in vehicles. Some alleged that he would insist he recognised them or claimed they had met before, even when they were certain they had never spoken to him.
Another woman, who said she has family living in the same residential complex where the man allegedly resides, spoke angrily about what she described as a dangerous situation for women and young girls in the area. In an emotionally charged statement, she accused the family of knowingly housing him among vulnerable residents, despite being aware of his alleged history.
She claimed that residents had observed troubling behaviour, including early morning departures and interactions with women in nearby neighbourhoods that caused concern. She also alleged that he had made disturbing comments toward women in the complex, including telling one of them that he beheads women of her kind after she rejected him.
