There have been two murders reported in Belize for 2014. Both of them occurred in the south and both victims were viciously chopped to death. The first murder occurred on Thursday night near the community of Trio on the Southern Highway, and the second occurred on Saturday night at the Green Gold Banana Farm off the Hummingbird Highway in Santa Cruz. Tonight we start with the most recent killing. Forty-one year old Benque Viejo resident Maria Perez died far away from home. Her mutilated body was discovered on a feeder road on a banana farm near midnight Saturday. The farm is populated by workers, and it is a closed community, so Police have reason to believe that one of those workers committed the brutal act. News Five went south today and reporter Mike Rudon has the story.
Mike Rudon, Reporting
Forty-one year old Maria Perez was seen entering the Green Gold banana farm at around four pm on Saturday. By midnight she was dead, chopped in what seems to be a fit of passion. She met her end on this feeder road, marked now only by bloodstains soaked into the ground. Police say her screams were heard by workers who asked the woman who operates the local store to call the Police. She did, and they showed up shortly after.
Alton Alvarez
Alton Alvarez, O.C., Intermediate Southern Formation
“We came upon the said female lying motionless. The female had received multiple machete wounds, or wounds which we believe to be that from a machete to the head and body.”
Perez was found wearing underwear and a vest. She had received multiple chop wounds to the head and arm and her wrists were nearly severed. One of her fingers was completely cut off. Her clothes were found about thirty feet from her body.
Alton Alvarez
“The body was bloody and the Police found her in that condition, in underwear and a blouse, and a black skirt which we believe to be the property of the deceased was found not too far from where the body lied. At this time we are investigating as to whether it was a crime of passion. There is no evidence at this time to suggest that she was raped, but we continue to conduct investigations. As a matter of fact guys are on the ground at this time conducting investigations.”
A main part of the investigation is based on the victim’s cell phone which was found tucked in her bra. They believe she used that phone to make contact with the person who eventually killed her.
Alton Alvarez
“On the scene the Police had recovered a cell phone. The cell phone was found on the person of the deceased and we believe that the cell phone is the property of the deceased. We have information that that cell phone was used for at least forty-five seconds within the moment leading to her demise. Police are investigating the matter and we are consulting the members of that community. We are very much hopeful that we will be getting the necessary cooperation from those who may have heard the deceased screaming before her death.”
Maria Perez was a regular visitor at the banana farm. Police have one person detained for questioning.
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