Not since the terrible spree of "Jack" and the girl murders of 1998 and 1999, has there been such a collective sense of disbelief and shock as resulted yesterday when news emerged of a teenaged girl who was bound, raped and strangled.
But this is not the work of Jack; in fact police say it's most likely the mindless act of a village vagrant. Alfonso Noble went looking for answers today - and found a devastated father who went to pick up his daughter as usual, not knowing that she was already dead.
Alfonso Noble Reporting,
The flag at the Corozal Community College is today flying at half-mast as students and teachers mourn the loss of 16-year-old 2nd from student Elia Gonzalez. Just 3 days before she had been at school and had left to come to her village home in Libertad Village. Her father Mario Gonzalez tells of her trip.
Mario Gonzalez, Elia's Father
(With aid of translator) "My daughter boarded a U-can bus and according to one student whom she spoke to she got off at the junction of Concepcion and he saw her walk off."
She took this road- a mile's walk and she'd be at home- a trip that had become routine for the 16 year old. As residents in the area remember she'd be out at the junction early in the morning and would return everyday sometime around 3 and 3:30 in the afternoon.
Maria Carillas, Neighbor
"In the morning her father brings her out around 6:30 and on her way back she comes at around 3 and 3:30 by herself."
Alfonso Noble,
"That day do you know what time she passed?"
Maria Carillas,
"Sometime around 3:30 my daughter in law saw her."
But while residents saw her at that time her father says Elia had told him she would be coming in an hour later.
Mario Gonzalez,
"I had in my mind and heart that my daughter would arrive home around 4:30 but the problem is at school. My daughter told me a time and when we investigated at the school after she had disappeared the school had let her out at 2:30."
"If the school would put an appointed time... I'm saying what I'm feeling. If they would put an appointed time, the parents have a time because the children would tell them. The school should say this is the time they are let out- at a certain time. But they tell us a time and the school lets them out at another time and that is the problem."
After having mounted a search in the village family members say that sometime around 1:30 yesterday afternoon they finally found her here in this area. They say that there was a string around her neck, her hands were tied behind her back and there were apparent signs of her being sexually molested.
George Medina, Cousin of Victim
"We found her with her hands tied up and the face was covered. We don't what all they did with her but I don't they would kill a young gial without raping her."
Supt. Michael Gutierrez, Officer-in-Charge Corozal Police
"The police suspect foul play and investigating a case of murder. From perspective the young lady was sexually assaulted and then killed so we are looking at a case of murder here."
A case of murder that one resident of the village holds a critical clue for. At around 4:30 on Tuesday afternoon an agitated man arrived at his house begging for water and holding a piece of jewelry that fits the description of one Elia used.
Villager, [Asked identity not be disclosed]
"He showed me a ring asking me if it was gold. I saw it and thought it might belong to someone like what a woman would use. Because I don't think any man would use a ring like that. When he showed it to me he was shaking."
Supt. Michael Gutierrez,
"We have one suspect that we are taking a very close look at this time but I wouldn't want to disclose the identity of that individual as the investigations are ongoing."
And even with those investigations in full effect Superintendent Gutierrez warns students about traveling these kinds of roads that are often deserted.
Supt. Michael Gutierrez,
"We would want to advise students and more so females that have the tendency to use these backtracks or these secluded roads in the evenings. We must be aware that there is always an existing danger out there because we have prowlers and we have criminal elements that are always out there monitoring the movements of innocent students in an attempt or effort to exploit their vulnerability. So we would want to advise the students and young people using the back roads to the use the more frequented and accessible roads."
A warning that will now be more closely considered especially after the loss of this 16 year old's life.
Police expect to bring charges tomorrow against the Concepcion Resident who is detained. A post mortem showed that Elia Gonzalez died of asphyxia due to strangulation after being raped and tied with her own shoelaces.
And while the Corozal district is not known for violent crime - this is not the first violent girl murder. In February of 1999, 9-year-old Becky Gilharry was killed after being raped at the Santa Rita Maya site. And down the road in Orange Walk another girl; Karen Cruz was killed in June of 1999. In the Becky Gilharry case a relative was arrested and tried, but no conviction resulted.