Santana Village, it is a ways down the old Northern Highway and far from the hysterics and harassment of population centers like Belize City and Orange Walk. And that's why a daring and violent home invasion is so shocking. It happened on Saturday morning. Jacqueline Godwin went north today to find out more.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
This was the first crime of its kind to occur in Santana Village however the community is not living in fear because they believe it was a random act of violence committed by someone who may be related to the family."
This is the residence of twenty four year old Monica Mendez. Around one fifteen on Saturday morning, the young mother was home with her five and eight year old sons when she heard a knock on the front door by persons who declared they were the police. Mendez refused to open the door but then the men threatened to shoot. Fearing for her family's life, Mendez opened the door and that is when six armed men stormed into the building.
Mendez was tied up while the assailants went through the house looking for money and valuables. The robbers stole one thousand four hundred dollars in cash, a generator, television, DVD player and the family's licensed sixteen gauge shotgun. But they weren't finished there. As the men left the property they kidnapped the children and then punctured the tires' of the family's vehicle. The boys were later found safe and well at a mile and half away from their home by this curve on the Santana/Corozalito Road.
Mendez who managed to free herself, scrambled into the community to get help. According to family friend Ruth Williams who was one of the first persons to reach the Mendez home, she could not believe what had happened.
Ruth Williams, Family Friend
"When I look there I saw she was tied up in the middle of the house with a tape and a long piece of tape was right there and the house clothes were thrown all over the floor, the mattress was turned over, like boxes turned over, buckets turned over and things pulled down. It was in a mess."
Erminda Reid, Chairperson - Santana Village
"They have to start all over because what they couldn't take they destroyed. They bored the vat, they stabbed the vehicle wheels, they took the battery, they destroyed the groceries, and they took their VCRs, their generator, their water pump, their extension, their television, even the DVD discs, only the coverings are outside."
But why was a defenseless mother and two children attacked? According to the officer in charge of Ladyville Police Crimes Investigation, Corporal Samuel Bonilla, they too believe the terrifying attack was orchestrated by someone close to the family.
CPL Samuel Bonilla, O.C Ladyville Crimes Investigation
"We have leads that we strongly do believe that these persons who committed the act are persons who are close to the complainant."
The police do have their main suspect in custody.
CPL Samuel Bonilla,
"We have one person in custody. We do not want to release his name as yet and we are looking for three other persons who can definitely assist the police in their investigations. Definitely it is somebody who knew these individuals well and money was inside."
It is believed the attackers knew there would have been some cash in the house. The family not only owns a vegetable stall at one of the city's markets but the children's father and Mendez's common law husband Alexander Robateau, a farmer, also supplies small quantities of material to woodcarvers.
Erminda Reid,
"They are very hard working people. That is what I said. The young man, I don't think he and anybody have any problem around here. He is a friendly person, he works hard, everybody knows he works hard, he goes to the market Tuesdays and Saturdays. His mom has a stall in the market. He farms and then his mom sells there for him. When he doesn't go, the wife goes. And the wife also, works hard with him because many times when I would pass through the road behind here, you will see her out watering plants or chopping doing something with him. She works hard along with him to help."
Chairlady Reid says she is concerned over the well being of the children especially the eldest son who was traumatized.
Erminda Reid,
"That's why he was crying because while they were tied up, that's what they did to him. They put the knife at the smaller one's throat and said they were going to kill him. They didn't look shaken up. The only time I saw tem cry was when their daddy came then both of them hugged their dad and cried."
Today the community says they do not know how the family will recover because it took time a long time to purchase all of their possessions that have now been stolen but are appealing to the surrounding communities to help in the recovery.
Ruth Williams,
"To allow me to appeal to the communities out there to assist them with whatever they can, it can be money, clothing, groceries, whatever they can."
Ladyville police say they also have seized a vehicle they suspect may have been used in transporting the robbers. For 7News, Jacqueline Godwin.
Police say they are not sure if the description of the robber's vehicle is accurate and may have been mistaken for a dark blue pickup truck. If you have any information that can assist in the investigation, you're asked to please contact the nearest police station.
