As assault victim William Hyde clung to life in a Florida hospital, friends and co-workers found themselves Friday pondering an age old question.
"Why do bad things happen to good people?" asked Ashok Chugani, manager of the Main Street Boolchands store. Hyde had worked for Boolchands at its Havensight outlet, and Chugani met him many times. He and Ravi Singh, who worked with Hyde for many years, said their friend has been a good man. Jack Shivlani, Hyde’s supervisor as manager of the Havensight store, called Hyde "a great guy to be around."
"Whatever he loved to do, he put his heart and soul into it. For a 60-plus year old to have that much energy is really something," Shivlani said. "I used to tell him, ‘I hope I have your energy when I get to be your age,’ and he’d always say, ‘You’re getting there. You’re getting there.’"
Hyde was assaulted Nov. 23 by five young men, ages 16 and 17, who according to police, set Hyde up using his well-known willingness to help people out. The five were arrested by police Monday and charged as minors. They have since been released to their parent’s custody and have returned to high school.
According to police, one of the five called Hyde and said he needed a ride, knowing that he was always willing to lend a hand to those who needed it..
When he arrived, all five commandeered the vehicle and drove out to Magens Bay, where they beat him severely and left him.
Hyde was found the next morning in the women’s shower at the beach park. His identification, cell phone and anything else that would have led police to his identity were missing, and for several days authorities did not know the name of the victim. Two days later the Police Department issued a call to the community to help them identify the man who’d been found unconscious at the beach.
According to Shivlani, when Hyde left the store that Friday he had told him, "I’ll see you Saturday."
But Saturday came and Hyde did not show up at work, which was unlike him, the manager said. He tried calling, sending a text and an email, but there was no response, which was also unlike the man whose love of high-tech gadgets made him a great salesman of the products.
Hyde had a father in his 90s still living in the states, and had said that in an emergency he might have to fly out at a moment’s notice, so Shivlani didn’t worry too much.
But when Sunday came and there was still no word from him, Boolchands employees became concerned. Monday morning one of them went out to see if he was at his home or his other workplace (Hyde also worked part time at Gourmet Gallery.) But then they found a news release from the V.I. Police Department saying a "John Doe" had been found, and the description sounded like their friend. After contacting police, they eventually learned that – sadly – they were right.
Shivnali visited Hyde in the hospital, where police had said he was in serious condition but showing improvement. He was unconscious, but Shivnali said he could see Hyde’s eyes moving behind closed lids as he reacted to sound and touch.
Hyde was transferred to a hospital in Florida, where Monday he was taken off of life support. Though he suffered extensive injuries, as of Saturday he was still hanging on to life.
Both Chugani and Singh described Hyde as a man who people naturally gravitated to, and who was always willing to help people in need. His assailants knew that and used it, according to Singh, who said he was devastated by the news.
"They know he’s caring, that he’ll help anyone, and they used that knowledge against him," he said. "That makes the situation 20 times worse, if it can be any worse."
Singh said he and Hyde shared a connection in humor. Hyde was a well-traveled man. Though from California, he had been all over the world, and his years in England, where Singh is from, as well as Paris, gave him a perspective that the two men shared.
"I got on particularly well with him … if I was to tell a joke, he got it, he understood. Not many people get the humor from England, but I knew he would. We could talk for hours. He was a really fun guy, honest."
He added that Hyde seemed to know everyone in the community and had many loyal customers.
Shivnali had trouble describing the emptiness he feels at work, with the small space he shared with Hyde now vacant. A religious man, he said he is struggling to find meaning in events, even as he hopes for a miracle.
"I’ve seen the first pictures" that the police took documenting the injuries, Shivnali said. "No human being can do this to anyone. It’s not human. I’ve seen a lot, but nothing like this. The images will be in my mind forever."
"I’m a religious person, I believe in God and I believe in miracles," he continued, saying that as long as there is life there is hope.
"He’s here, he is here, and he’s a fighter. I never knew this part of him. How after going through this …" Shivnali’s voice trailed off, then he mused, "There has to be a message … has to be something."
Chugani said friends are encouraged that Hyde is fighting, but have heard enough of the severity of his condition not to hold on to too much hope. After all, Hyde’s condition was bad enough that family members agreed to remove life support.
"If he lives, what kind of life will it be?" he asked.
Sources familiar with the investigation say authorities are awaiting the outcome of Hyde’s medical case. If he dies, charges could be increased from first-degree assault and attempted murder to homicide, and the attorney general could move to have the five tried as adults.
Meanwhile, at Boolchands some of the electronics that Hyde had been eagerly awaiting have arrived, and Hyde’s fellow workers have created the display their friend was looking forward to.
"We miss him. We are sad this thing has happened to him," Shivnali said. "There’s an emptiness."
"He used to love putting together the cell phone displays … He’s been snatched away, but he has not gone to another place. He would have loved to be here this time of year."
