Tucked away on the island of St. Croix along the shimmering waters of the Caribbean, lies Cane Bay Campgrounds--a seemingly idyllic retreat where travelers seek refuge under a canopy of tropical serenity. But beneath the surface of this tranquil paradise, a darker narrative fester--one that many guests may never suspect.
At the center of this storm stands Alecia Lockhart, a name that, for those familiar with the grim underbelly of true crime and the macabre, is synonymous with controversy.
Lockhart's ties to western Arkansas were established when she maneuvered her way into being part of a book deal covering one of th most notorious cases in Fort Smith's history.
Once an aspiring true-crime author, Lockhart gained brief notoriety for co-authoring Strangled, a book that purported to expose deep, sinister connections between the 1994 murder of Melissa Witt and the grotesque corners of the dark web.
But just as quickly as she emerged, she crumbled under the weight of her own deceit.
Lockhart’s descent into disgrace began when it was revealed that she lied to her publisher, fabricating elements of her story and compromising the credibility of the very case she claimed to champion.
As a result, she was dropped, her book deal dissolved, and any remnants of literary success turned to ash. Genius Book Publishing, after an internal investigation, confirmed that Lockhart had received her final royalty payment before severing all ties with her.
But this is far from the only skeleton in Alecia Lockhart’s closet.
Before attempting to rebrand herself as a true-crime journalist, Lockhart lived an even more disturbing double life as a plus-sized death fetish porn actress, operating under the pseudonym Cordelia Darkly.
The niche industry--rooted in disturbing, simulated acts of asphyxiation and morbid fantasy--was her domain long before she ever attempted to attach herself to real-life homicide investigations.
The unsettling irony? The very crime she claimed to seek justice for--Melissa Witt’s strangulation--was eerily similar to the kind of content she profited from in her former career.
Now, in the wake of her tarnished reputation, Lockhart and her husband, Ryan, have vanished from the public eye, resurfacing as the unlikely proprietors of Cane Bay Campgrounds.
To the unsuspecting traveler, Cane Bay Campgrounds appears to be nothing more than a Caribbean escape.
Online reviews depict the location as a peaceful getaway, with beachfront access and rustic accommodations. Some guests even describe Lockhart and her husband as "wonderful people" who are "knowledgeable about the island."
But one can’t help but wonder—do these travelers know who is truly welcoming them?
Does the honeymooning couple, toasting beneath the stars, realize that their host was once a figure in an industry steeped in disturbing fetishes?
Do the families pitching their tents on the sandy shores understand that Lockhart once sought to monetize a real murder while simultaneously being an active participant in an industry that fetishizes women’s violent deaths?
More importantly, is Cane Bay Campgrounds just a new grift—a carefully curated mirage designed to erase a past riddled with scandal?
There are deeper concerns beyond Lockhart’s past. Safety, transparency, and integrity should be paramount in the hospitality industry, yet the presence of a woman known for deception and morally questionable pursuits raises unsettling questions.
Are guests at Cane Bay Campgrounds truly safe?
Is this venture merely a financial refuge for a woman who can no longer make a living in publishing or pornography?
And most chillingly—how far would she go to protect her new identity from those who dig too deep?
While Cane Bay's pristine beaches may offer travelers a temporary escape from reality, the past has a way of catching up to those who try to outrun it. And in the case of Alecia Lockhart, the tide may be turning once again.
For those seeking an island retreat, perhaps it would be wise to look elsewhere—lest they find themselves entangled in a story far darker than they ever anticipated.
