Court Orders Public Notice in Virgin Islands, Georgia, and Florida Debt Case After Personal Service Fails

The Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, Division of St. Croix, has ordered substituted service by publication in a civil debt case after finding that personal service on certain defendants could not be completed despite extensive efforts.

According to a court order dated December 5, 2025, the matter arose from a motion filed on December 4, 2025, by the plaintiff, Jaye A. Whipper, Tropical Ice Goddess JW, LLC, in Case No. SX-2025-SM-00059, an action for debt. The defendants named in the case are Natasha Burroughs, also known as Natasha Ramon; Deleno Burroughs; and Rayniah Gaskins.

The court found that the plaintiff demonstrated “exceptional research and means” in attempting to locate the two unserved defendants and that personal service had been unsuccessful. Based on those findings, the court granted the plaintiff’s motion for substituted service by publication.

Under the order, the Summons and Citation in the matter must be published once a week for four consecutive weeks in each of the following locations:

• A newspaper of general circulation in the U.S. Virgin Islands

• A newspaper of general circulation in Georgia

• A newspaper of general circulation in Florida

The order was issued by Superior Court Judge Alphonso G. Andrews Jr. and attested to by the Clerk of the Court.

The publication is intended to satisfy service requirements where personal service cannot be effected, allowing the case to proceed in accordance with court rules.