Mystery arsonist targets city family
As crimes go, vandalizing a vehicle is not in the same league with murder, rape or robbery…but for one Belize City woman, the heartless acts of an unknown antagonist have driven her to the point of desperation.
Olga Jones, Victim
“This Christmas somebody just broke my heart. I nice to everybody that come around, I nice to outsiders. For somebody to do this to we, Jackie, I don’t know what next to do.”
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Christmas should be a joyous occasion, but for thirty-nine year old Olga Jones, the past two holiday seasons have brought only fear and sorrow. Exactly one year and three days after someone used gasoline to set the Jones’ Ford van on fire, the family strongly believe that the culprit struck again this past Sunday morning. The same vehicle that was repaired following last year’s blaze was once again set on fire.
Olga Jones
“I really can’t tell you who did it. That is what scares me because then the person might laugh and talk with me, the person might pass my house, call me and stuff like that. I don’t know why.”
The family managed to use sand to extinguish the flames. But, like the previous incident, everything inside the vehicle was burnt to a crisp.
Jacqueline Woods
“How do you believe the person gained access inside the vehicle?”
Olga Jones
“Through the gypsy window. They knock it in, they throw the gas and light it fire because we find a bottle by the wheel off of the gas. They left it there so we could see it, but who it is, I don’t have any idea.”
Jones says she has no argument with anyone, and as far as she knows, her husband has no enemies. Jones says what is even more terrifying is not knowing why their family is being attacked, especially around this time of the year.
Olga Jones
“The first fire it cost we because my husband neglect his home just because we need transportation. I have a child who was going to sixth form, she couldn’t finish, and it happen again. So Jackie I no really know what I will do, I noh know.”
Today, Jones is appealing to anyone who may know why the family is being targeted to get in touch with her.
Olga Jones
“I di plead to whosoever did it or who ever know concerning or hear something, please call me at 222-4087. If they don’t want to call me, they can call the police because I am scared, I scared knowing that I don’t know who this person is.”
Jones says the van is primarily used to transport her six children to primary school. Meanwhile the police have been investigating the incident but so far they have no leads as to who has been traumatizing her family.
