Michael and Thelma King, rich American couple found murdered in their Caribbean home

Police have nabbed a suspect in the gruesome murder of a wealthy South Carolina couple found dead in their St. Maarten home.

The slashed bodies of Michael and Thelma King were found Friday at the couple's beachfront condominium on the small Dutch Caribbean territory.

Michael and Thelma, both in their 50s, suffered fatal stab wounds, Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos said. Thelma was found tied to a chair, while her husband was found on the floor, partially lying on an overturned chair.

The male suspect was arrested before dawn Sunday, said police spokesman Ricardo Henson, adding that authorities will release a statement "as soon as more information can be divulged."

A motive for the brutal slayings remains unclear.

Michael and Thelma, both successful entrepreneurs, owned several homes, including a condominium in Mount Pleasant, S.C., and multiple restaurants on St. Maarten.

Friends of the couple said they were stunned by the news.

"It was such a shock," Terry Tamblyn of Isle of Palms, S.C., told The Post and Courier. "I can't figure any reason.”

Michael was a retired insurance executive who later spearheaded a lucrative printing business that he eventually sold, said Tamblyn, who last spoke to his friend two weeks ago.

"He'd give you the shirt off his back," Tamblyn said. "They were just the greatest people in the world. I can't think of any enemies."

Topper Daboul, a St. Maarten restaurant owner, told the AP that he and Michael were planning to build a rum factory together on the territory.

"These two people probably had to hang their wings up at night. That's how beautiful they were," Daboul said. "Their life was pretty successful. ... They had oodles of dollars. They had everything they ever wanted in life."

Daboul said he last saw Michael Wednesday afternoon.

"We weren't able to reach them on Thursday. We called all day on Thursday," Daboul said. "The fact that he didn't call made me a little suspicious, but not a lot."

Daboul said he went to the couple's apartment at the Ocean Club Resort in Cupecoy Friday and banged on the door.

He said he asked a person on the property to climb the fence to see if anyone was in the house. The person reportedly told Daboul that he saw a dead man slumped over a chair.

The St. Maarten Hospitality & Trade Association has since expressed outrage over the slayings.

"This tragedy pains everyone in the community deeply," it said in a statement.

Autopsies are expected to be conducted Monday. Relatives of the deceased couple have already arrived on the territory.