Last night we told you about the staggering toll of murders for 2009: 22 in less than 11 weeks. Well this morning we found out about number 23. And while each has its own terrible imprint of tragedy, this one seems particularly random and vicious in the extreme. A 27 year old single woman was knifed to death as she walked out of her home early this morning. It appears random and extremely violent. Jacqueline Godwin found out more.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting
Unconfirmed reports are that Lacey Rosales who is believed to be in her early twenties was fatally stabbed around five this morning. Lacey had been living at this lower concrete apartment situated on Neal’s Pen Road for the past four months. No one in the immediate area would talk to us on camera but neighbours did tell 7News that they were suddenly awakened by the sounds of a woman crying out loudly. It is not known if Lacey, who was known to go for early morning walks to exercise was first attacked inside her apartment but reports are she was first viciously beaten in the face and then fatally stabbed outside the building.
This trail of blood leads from the spot where police investigators suspect
twenty eight year old Lacey Rosales was stabbed repeatedly as she fought with her attacker to desperately save her life.
Helen Rosales, Sister of Murder Victim
“She doesn’t interfere with anybody, she is everybody’s friend but she is not to be taken lightly; she will put up a fight.”
Helen Rosales believes whoever killed her sister has some defensive wounds that should be able to help the police find their suspect. But at this time he remains unknown and the butcher knife believe to be the murder weapon has still not been found.
ASP Julio Valdez, CIB
“Apparently she was stabbed outside of her yard, that is a fact. She was rushed to the KHMH. When police reached to the KHMH, she was still living. From information is that she was coming into her yard she was attacked and a person attacked her and stabbed her in the mid-chest and she was rushed to the hospital.”
Reports are that as Lacey Rosales was being rushed to the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital she complained about difficulty breathing and then lost consciousness. Four hours after arriving at the KHMH Lacey Rosales passed away. At the crime scene police comb the area to find whatever evidence could lead them to the killer.
ASP Julio Valdez,
“And as she stepped out of whilst in her yard. The attack is described as a male person wearing a white t-shirt. That is all we get up to now.”
Some reports are that because of the aggressive nature of the attack the killer may have known the victim. But the officer in charge of Crimes Investigation Branch in Belize City ASP Julio Valdez says at this time there is nothing to suggest that….. Only that she appears to have been an innocent victim. Why Lacey Rosales was killed remains a mystery.
ASP Julio Valdez,
“At this time we are unable to say that Jackie because the investigation is still ongoing. The police are still out there canvassing the area and we will conduct our investigation. So at this time we are unable to say whether somebody who knew her or who is the assailant. At this time we are unable to say. Walking out of her house, being attacked and killed, that’s it, innocently we believe. As I mentioned motive I cannot state at this time. We don’t have a motive right now. The investigation continues but it is disturbing – a lady going out of her house and being killed and attacked.”
Helen Rosales,
“Who could have done something like this to such a quiet person. She
hardly speaks, she is just happy go lucky as you see in her picture. That’s her. It is just too much.”
There is also no indication that anything was stolen from Lacey Rosales. According to Helen Rosales her sister was on her way to pickup her mom who is a cancer patient to take her to Dangriga for her weekly chemo treatment. In fact as this cell phone message shows, at four fifty five this morning Lacey Rosales texted her mom stating,
“ah hope unu dun ready.” Five minutes later Lacey Rosales stepped out of her apartment and was savagely attacked. Helen Rosales says she knows the medical staff tried hard to save her sister’s life but she had sustained a massive injury to the abdomen.
Helen Rosales,
“According to the doctor she had a major blow to a major artery in the abdomen and that was the one they couldn’t get to but they tried.”
Today Helen Rosales and her family joined other grieving families in the country to appeal to the authorities to stop the killings.
Helen Rosales,
“I think I will have to join hands with all the other victims of vicious violence and say our government needs to put its act together. We need to see some action done now. When it hits home it hits harder. We have had so many of our friends and loved ones have fallen just like this, just to see they go to court and they are nolle prosequi nolle prosequi.”
Lacey Rosales’ murder is the seventh for Belize City and the twenty third killing in the country for 2009 so far.
Jacqueline Godwin,
This must be pretty frustrating coming on the heels of the incident in Orange Walk.
ASP Julio Valdez,
“Yes Jackie we are aware. We are trying our best, we are working hard to try to solve these matters.”
Lacey Rosales who loved athletics and known for her friendly and quiet personality is scheduled to be laid to rest later this week. Jacqueline Godwin reporting for 7News.
Police don’t have any suspects, but if you have any information, please call the CIB office at 227-7489.
