A Bahamian court has sentenced 39-year-old Chris Ferguson to 40 years imprisonment for the horrific rape and murder of 12-year-old Adriel Moxey, a case that has shocked the nation. Ferguson, a painter and car washer from Misty Close, pleaded guilty to charges of murder, unlawful sexual intercourse, and unlawful detention to have sexual intercourse before Justice Guillimina Archer-Minns.
The court heard how Ferguson systematically followed the child along a bush path on November 18, 2024, falsely claiming to be a local resident before luring her into vegetation where he committed sexual assault and ultimately strangled her with a belt. In a disturbing twist, he returned the following day to relocate the body. The victim’s remains were discovered two days later near Faith Avenue after an extensive island-wide search, with police reports confirming death by strangulation.
Outside the courtroom, Sasha Moxey, the victim’s mother, expressed mixed emotions regarding the sentencing. While acknowledging the pain of hearing graphic details of her daughter’s final moments—so severe that her partner had to exit the courtroom—she accepted the 40-year term as part of a judicial agreement, though she believed life imprisonment would have been more appropriate.
The proceedings revealed Ferguson’s written apology to the family, in which he stated: ‘I took away an innocent life and I know I must pay for my wrongdoing.’ His defense counsel, David Cash, highlighted Ferguson’s remorse and requested continued psychological counseling and enrollment in a prison fellowship program, noting his client’s solitary confinement and need for mental health evaluation.
Justice Archer-Minns characterized the crimes as ‘heinous and callous,’ emphasizing that the child ‘did not deserve to die the way she did.’ The court agreed to forward defense submissions regarding prison conditions to the prison commissioner.
Ms. Moxey revealed that Ferguson’s knowledge of her daughter’s bag location convinced her of his guilt as the last person to see Adriel alive. She described the ongoing impact on the victim’s siblings, particularly the eldest, and asked the public to remember her daughter as ‘beautiful and full of life.’ While acknowledging the sentence brought some closure, she noted the healing process would require considerable time. The case was prosecuted by Eucal Bonaby.