Last night we reported the brutal murder of 23-year-old Vilma Copo in the San Martin area of Belmopan. Today a post mortem was conducted to determine the exact cause of her death. Police estimate that she had been stabbed 29 times and her throat was slit. Her husband Ivan Copo, who was working in the USA when it happened, flew into Belize yesterday. He told us today he is still in shock.
Keith Swift Reporting,
This afternoon Belmopan Police brought the body of 33-year-old Vilma Copo to the KHMH for a post mortem. The young mother of two was viciously stabbed more than 20 times inside her home on Tuesday night. Her husband Ivan Copo was in Missouri working.
Ivan Copo, Husband of Deceased
"The information I got was that she was stabbed numerous times, dozens of times, and I will say it was a vicious killing. Somebody must have been under the influence of drugs or some sort of influence in their system that would do something like that."
Vilma was at home with the couple's two children, a 3-year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter. Both kids witnessed their mom's vicious murder.
Miriam Sabado, Sister of Deceased
"The little boy said a boy went in a vehicle and knocked on the door. She opened the door and then he just killed her."
Ivan Copo,
"I've got two little kids and unfortunately they witnessed what was taking place and my son is traumatized right now. He is in shock. He cries every now and again. He can't sleep, he can't eat, and he just says 'mommy is dead. Mommy is dead.'"
And as brutal as the murder was, it's made worse because the two children stayed in the house with their dead mother's body for almost an entire day.
Ivan Copo,
"That took place and the kids were there the whole next day until around 4:30 to 5:00 o'clock when they find out what had happened. That is what kills me right now, that I don't know, I don't know what to say. I don't have words to explain myself. I just justice to be made."
But more than justice, this father who was working in the states to make a better life for his family wants answers.
Ivan Copo,
"I am shocked because I don't know who would want to do that to my wife. I don't know. I just want justice to be made and face this person or whosoever it is, or persons, and ask them why in this world they did that to me because I would give them anything. If they asked me for my house, my vehicle, my everything that I have, but don't touch them, don't do harm to them. They touched me soul. They turned around my life and I don't know how I am standing here. I don't know how but I need to go for it because I look at my kids, they look at me and depend on me so I need to be strong. I need to put a strong face to them. That is what keeps me going and will keep me going for until I could ask this person why he did that to my lovely wife that I love so much."
Information to 7NEWS is that Vilma Copo received two calls on her cell phone on the night of her murder. One call was at 7 pm and the other at 10. Police have her phone. They also note that there was no sign of forced entry so police believed she let in her killer or killers. Police say they are seeking three male suspects and one female.
