Prisoner escapes, police not informed

We are in the middle of Prison Awareness Week… and while these days are set aside to increase our knowledge and concern for what goes on behind the walls, our lead story tonight concerns a prisoner who went over the wall. Twenty-year old inmate Heidi Martinez apparently broke out of Hattieville on Sunday, but her escape only become public today when she failed to show up at Magistrate’s Court in Belize City. Martinez, a Guatemalan, was on remand for a charge of theft and handling stolen goods. On March seventeenth she allegedly stole a gold chain from a home in Belize City where she worked as a maid. Police and court officials were left dumbstruck this morning when they called the prison only to find out that the accused had checked out of the Ramada four days ago and did not leave a forwarding address. Corrections officers declined to discuss the incident, saying that Prison Governor Bernard Adolphus was the only one authorised to speak to the press. We could not find Adolphus for comment, but when we do he will be asked to explain how the young lady managed to disappear and why the police were never informed. In case anyone is interested, Martinez is described as under five feet tall and slimly built. She is not considered dangerous, except perhaps to the reputation of certain officials at Hattieville Prison. Late unconfirmed word from Hattieville is that the breakout is being blamed on a negligent female officer, who has since been dismissed.