( CNN ) -- Police on the Dutch Caribbean island of St. Maarten are investigating the killing of an American couple found stabbed in their home , authorities said Sunday . The bodies of Michael and Thelma King of South Carolina were discovered Friday at their residence in Cupecoy , according to Taco Stein , St. Maarten 's solicitor general , who described it as `` an ugly scene . '' An unidentified suspect was taken into custody early Sunday and is being interviewed , Stein said . `` It 's too early to reveal any more details because we are in the early stages of the investigation , '' he added . The killings occurred in an area popular with tourists , according to Stein . `` It 's generally considered a safe area , '' he told CNN . `` There are a lot of apartments there . This was an ugly scene . This is something that does not happen every day . '' Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos told the island 's Daily Herald newspaper that the victims appeared to have been stabbed to death . Thelma King was found tied to a chair and her husband was lying on the floor , Mos told the newspaper . Topper Daboul , a restaurant owner on the island , said he was a friend and business partner of the couple . `` They were beautiful people , '' he said . `` They were kind to everybody . '' Daboul said he believes robbery might have been a possible motive . `` I 'm shocked , I 'm still in shock , '' he said , adding , `` I break down and I 'm back up and I break down again . ''
Michael and Thelma King were found dead Friday . The bodies of the couple had been missing for more than a week in their home on the outskirts of San Antonio. `` This was an ugly scene , '' an official says .