For the second time in 5 days in two different areas of the country a woman has been murdered in what appears in both cases to be sex crimes. Last week, the scene was Roaring River Village outside of Belmopan, and on Saturday it was Dangriga town where a teenaged mother of two 8 months pregnant with another child was killed, possibly after being raped by an as yet unidentified man.
Alfonso Noble traveled to Dangriga where he found that this young mother's troubled life was fraught with danger.
Alfonso Noble Reporting, [From Dangriga Town]
This picturesque house with the quaint garden in the Lakeland Area of Dangriga looks pretty enough for a postcard, but instead it's a crime scene where a murder victim was found on Saturday morning.
Dolores Antonio, Victim's Neighbor
"I looked this way and I realized that I saw the person lying down. So it was astonishing to me that this person was here."
The victim was 18 year old Melissa Suazo who was the mother of a 2 year old, a 10 month old and was also 8 months pregnant with her third child. She was found here in a neighbor's yard, just a few feet from where she lived, lying on the ground in a prone position, wearing only a sports bra. By all accounts she lived in the margins of and on the slender mercies of the Dangriga community but even so a death like this was unexpected.
Rogelio Palacio, Victim's Neighbor
"I was still surprised and it was shocking to me likewise because I didn't expect that to happen. She used to have her ups and downs in life situations but otherwise than that she is quite okay with her little hustling and thing coming back and going out back again. She used to hang out at gambling places and from there she should would come here etc."
Those habits, gambling, late nights and on Saturday, mysterious company led to her death.
Beverly Bermudez, Victim's Cousin
"Earlier in the night Melissa's common-law husband and three other guys were drinking at Roxie's Club where I was drinking. I stayed there for an hour and after that I came home. And when I came home I called her at about 10:30 and told her that her husband was drinking at Roxie's. She told me to leave that 'dog' there (because with our men we like to run joke and call them 'dog'). After that we stood and talked and I told her well Melissa I am going home now to go sleep. But I am telling you that it is the same guys who were drinking with Melissa's fiancé or common-law husband that killed her because they knew that he was in prison. They were ones who came and told her about it and Melissa is a nice looking girl and she looks good with her pregnancy. So I know it is them who raped her and killed her."
"Pet was with Melo (Melissa's boyfriend) and another guy who I don't know; a stranger. We even talked about in the night that the guy who Melo was drinking with was a stranger. We were just interested in the guy's drinking so I know it is the stranger and either Pet or somebody else. But it's them. It's both of them who was drinking with Melissa's man who killed Melissa."
Sgt. Pablo Pickney, Investigating Officer
"She was seen late Saturday morning out and she was taken home by someone shortly after 2 and she was found dead sometime around 6 Saturday morning."
"We have two persons in custody and presently we are still looking for one who we are unable to find because we understand he is not someone from Dangriga. But we are making efforts to have in our custody."
One man who wasn't with her is her husband Melvin Noralez he was at the police station because of disorderly conduct earlier in the night. When we spoke to him he told us he regrets not being there to protect the mother of his two children.
Melvin Noralez, Victim's Common-law Husband
"It wouldn't have happened because my girl would have been right here with me, right now. [Pause and Sighs_] It so sad that has to end up like this because I thought I was doing the right thing to keep her safe for the kids. But this tragedy happened so I don't know."
And while he did try to guide her, the family says that guidance often came at the end of a bare knuckle.
Ana Jesse Suazo, Victim's Sister
"Melissa used to live a violent life; domestic violence. Every time she and her common-law got into problems. Whenever they get into problem, here would be her resting place. She would just come and say dad or mom I am going through this with my boyfriend and she would come stay here. And he would threaten her sometimes; that is what she told us. But it is not he who killed her because at that time before Melissa died police had already picked up her common-law so he was at station at that time."
Beverly Bermudez,
"I'm in a violent relationship also. And in fact when my boyfriend and me are fighting I would call out and tell him to behave himself so my neighbors could hear. But only because Melissa husband would say he doesn't want anyone to get involved in their relationship or he would chop and kill them. So no one wanted to help Melissa when she was in problem. So everyone thought it was Melissa's man but it's not him."
Surely this 18-year-old had a hard life but she never deserved an end like this, naked, dead in her neighbor's yard.
Beverly Bermudez,
"…And that shouldn't go like that because Melissa is a nice person. Melissa is a nice person. Justice has to be done because we need take these guys and cut off their [Expletive] because that can't work."
But more than justice the thought now goes to her two children.
Melvin Noralez,
[Holding pictures of two children] "Love them."
Police say that if the post mortem determines that the child in Suazo's womb was at a stage where it could thrive on its own the accused person will be charged for two murders. Presently, five people are detained; police expect to charge two of them, and are seeking one other man who does not live in Dangriga.