Belize's Independence Day saw plenty of bloodshed with three killings and a vicious stabbing that has left one woman hospitalized. But first, we begin with a murder in the north.
43-year-old Bernard Timmons was described by those who knew him as a calm, quiet, and humble man. He was employed by the National Library Service for half of his life and he raised four children with his wife of over two decades.
So when the news of his murder reached his loved ones, they were left confused and distraught. He was the last person they'd think would be killed in such a violent way since, by all accounts, he was an innocent man who just wanted to enjoy time with his family in Orange Walk.
It has left those closest to him with plenty of questions but no answers. Today, Courtney Menzies spoke with some of them. Here is that story.
You may remember 43-year-old Bernard Timmons, whose daughter had a traumatic experience back in 2016 when she was only 3-years old. A gate fell on top of her, crushing her skull. Two years later, she and her family won their court case. At that time, her father was just happy she was alive.
Bernard Timmons, Father of Brenae
"Yes, thank God my daughter is still alive and healthy, and strong. We're trying to keep her in that capacity."
But while she survived that incident, her father was no so lucky last night in Orange Walk: he was murdered last night in Orange Walk around 11:30. The Belize City resident went to spend the holiday with his family in the north, but was chopped to the neck before he could make it back home.
This video shows when he was rushed to the hospital.
And while police aren't sure what the motive is, they say it may have stemmed from a fight.
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"The nature surrounding this incident has not been released to me as yet. I know that the investigators are saying, were briefed that a fight took place at that location that I told you on the Belize/Corozal Road but it has nothing to do with the actual Orange Walk carnival. They are saying that this incident took place a little distance away from where the carnival event was being held and this person had several injuries to his neck and succumbed to his injuries minutes after being transported to the Northern Regional."
Courtney Menzies
"And is anybody detained, or do you have a suspect?"
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
"Well, I know that they have persons detained that they are questioning but the investigator is saying that at this point, he couldn't send me a preliminary report because it's still being compiled while these persons are still being interviewed."
But as far as Timmons' family, friends, and coworkers knew, he wasn't the confrontational type. His sister-in-law told us off camera that the family is in shock since Timmons was not a violent drinker, but rather a funny-man, who liked making people laugh, and a family-man, who was focused on taking care of his common-law wife and their four children.
And he did so as a career librarian for over two decades. Every day, he would sit at his desk in the children's section, keeping to himself. That's why his supervisor says they couldn't believe the news.
Glenford Barrera, Librarian Responsible for Community Libraries & TLC
"I got the news this morning about 7:30 and I was like, you serious? For real? Can't, not Mr Timmons. When my staff called me and told me, I was like, Timmons? But that's not him. So I hung up the phone and sat there like, Timmons, what could he have done? Why would anyone want to harm him, you know? He's a very quiet person, always by himself, I mean even here at work, sometimes you'd be like, Mr Timmons you okay? And he would just sit right there and, what you going to do? So I was just shocked when I heard it this morning, really shocked. He started as the security and then he's like, Mr B, I would like to do what those girls do. So, I spoke to Ms Joy, at the time the chief librarian, and she said, well, let him go into technical service and see what he can do. So he just got along and gradually, he liked reading, actually he likes to do a lot of artwork and that's what he contributed to the library when we have displays and so, he would do the artwork, drawing, and that's what he's good at, and he really contributed that way to the library."
And just like that, Timmons had worked his way up, and while he was known to be reserved, he was slowly becoming involved in more activities around the library, including reading for the kids.
Glenford Barrera, Librarian Responsible for Community Libraries & TLC
"When I saw the video, I was like, wow Timmons, and that was just recently here for Literacy Day, and it was interesting, I was like, wow Timmons, and he was like Mr. Barrera, you know I can do it, and he said yes that's what I always wanted you to do, rather than just sitting in your corner, but it was amazing what he did, I really enjoyed it. Honestly everybody is like shocked. They're just like, Timmons, you know. And the person, Ms. Mara Scott that gave me the information this morning, she was like, Mr. Barrera, and then she started to cry when she told me so everybody, we're just shocked right now. Just in a quiet mood. Honestly if I was the chief I would say just go home and let everybody just relax because we've been around him and it's just hurtful to hear that this morning and to continue to work during the course of the day with that on your mind, it's just hard, but we got to do it."
Police have one suspect for this murder, a resident of Orange Walk who has been charged for murder twice - the first time in 2009 and again in 2020.
