But first, the burnt remains of a well known resident of Belmopan who had been missing for over a week were found yesterday. The discovery was made in the Mount Pleasant Area around mile 46 – but as Jacqueline Godwin found out the mystery of her death started at her home.
Jacqueline Godwin Reporting,
This is the where Belmopan police found the burned remains of a female. They strongly believe it to be sixty six year old Rosa Cristina Castillo de Cornejo, the business woman who went missing on Friday April seventeenth. Today several black bows and a somber message hung from the doors and windows of the victim’s popular establishment Our Shopping Centre situated at the Belmopan Market Square.
From all indications Rosa Cornejo who was affectionately known as “La Salvadorena” was taken against her will from her home in the night by someone she knew. The following day she was reported missing by a domestic helper and one day later police found Cornejo’s 1997 Nissan pickup truck with the keys still left in the ignition. The vehicle was parked on this feeder road off the Western Highway between miles forty six and forty seven.
Twelve days later Belmopan Police were taken about half a mile away from where the pickup truck was discovered and in this isolated and woody area they came across the burned remains. The remains have yet to be confirmed but the officer in charge of Belmopan Crimes Investigation Branch Sgt. Solomon Westby says personal items including pieces of jewellery found at a the scene and identified by the family makes authorities strongly believe it is Rosa Cornejo.
Sgt. Solomon Westby, Belmopan Police
“We cannot say where she was killed at this moment but definitely based on our investigation and looking forward with other evidence compared at the scene where the body was found, we believe that she was killed or burnt that same night we suspect she went missing which is Friday, sometime between 9 and 10.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
But did the police recover any evidence or observe anything that would let you believe that she was killed there in the same area where the burnt remains were found?
Sgt. Solomon Westby,
“No we did not find any item or any suspected evidence that would lead us to believe that she was murdered there.”
On Saturday morning the domestic helper reported to work and found her employer missing….but that’s not all.
Sgt. Solomon Westby,
“What was found maybe in disorder in her house was just her glasses that were found broken, just missing one handle, and was put on a side where it normally would be found. Also was found something like a plate where she might have contained certain items belonging to her. Instead of being where she normally left it, that was on the floor. This is what we gathered after interviewing her maid.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
And is it true that a door that would normally be closed was also found open?
Sgt. Solomon Westby,
“Yes it is true that when the maid arrived, the family usually maintains this door closed at all times and that was found open.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
She is described as a very popular businesswoman, she is 66 years old. Why would anybody want to kill Rosa Cornejo?
Sgt. Solomon Westby,
“Well that is still what is left puzzled for us. We are looking at that, we are still making further investigation, inquiries with the community but at this moment we haven’t gathered much to say that yes we have a reason why she was murdered.”
A store manager told 7News that the family was too distraught to speak with the media but we understand they have been working closely with the police.
Sgt. Solomon Westby,
“Right now we are looking forward to work with possible information that had came across from the community and see how that can assist us. In the earlier part of the investigation after she went missing, we had detained three fellows. We conducted our investigation, we did not have sufficient so they were later on released.”
If you can help the police in their investigation in what they strongly believe now to be the murder of sixty six year old Rosa Cristina Castillo de Cornejo contact the authorities. Jacqueline Godwin reporting for 7News.
Sources tell 7News that the only way Rosa Cornejo would have opened her door to anyone is if she knew the individual. She reportedly was wearing her nightgown on the night she was taken away that suggests she may have already retired for the evening. Rosa Cornejo’s family resides in her home country of El Salvador but the husband and son have since been in Belmopan looking for their wife and mother and tending to her business. We understand they too are at a loss as to why anyone would want to kill their loved one and that at no time did she complain to them that there were problems or threats.
Belmopan police have interviewed store employees and we understand that initially they had detained a former worker but he was released.
