Today history was made in San Ignacio - as hundreds of angry townspeople came out to protest against Bert Vasquez, the man now formally accused of the murder of 13 year old Jasmine Lowe.
But, he is also accused of attempting to prey on at least a dozen other girls! Couple that with his past criminal record in Belize - and, in the public's mind, that makes him a Super-Predator.
Today, the crowd outside the San Ignacio Police Station - resembled, at times, a mob; they had a noose, a model of Bert Vasquez hanging in effigy, and an array of protest signs.
It was the rarest of sights: a community coming together to collectively demand justice for one of their own.
They stayed around for hours to witness Bert Vasquez's arraignment - and even threw stones!
Our team was in San Ignacio for most of the day. They came back just a short while ago, and are putting together their story, so we'll have that for you shortly.
And while that story will detail the charged atmosphere, the bottom line is, Bert Vasquez has been charged for Jasmine Lowe's murder - and he is being held pending investigation of a number of other complaints.
But, our archives show that Bert Vasquez has been in the news for violent assaults a number of times before.
He first appeared in the news in 2008 as a 24 year old for pulling a gun in a road rage incident.
Then in 2011, he was charged for a pair of crimes eerily reminiscent of the allegations presently being made against him. First, he was accused of holding up a 24 year old woman at knife point and sexually assaulting her.
The woman reported to the police that Vasquez offered her a ride, but instead of taking her home she alleges that Vasquez drove her on the Northern Highway near to Ladyville, put a knife to her throat, and fondled her.
And then just a few months later, he was charged for holding a 16 year old female at gunpoint. The girl alleged that she was at the Pound Yard bridge when Vasquez pulled up, put a pistol to her side and forced her into a tinted car.
She jumped out of the car at Vista Del Mar. He was committed to stand trial for that forcible abduction earlier this year.
And now, he stands charged for murder - and there are 11 more complaints pending tonight - from girls in the Cayo district who he allegedly tried to pick up.
We'll have more on these new reports in tomorrow's newscast - and more on today's event coming up shortly...
