Kenrick Longsworth is Arraigned for Murder of Baby Mark Tuyul Jr.
Kenrick Longsworth
For two days, police looked for the man who is accused in the brutal killing of a three-year-old child. On Sunday, Kenrick Longsworth was captured in Isabella Bank in an extensive manhunt mounted by the police. He was taken to court under heavy police escort this morning for arraignment for murder. Three-year-old Mark Tuyul Junior was found dead by his mother on Friday evening. The brothers of the deceased child were also injured in the despicable incident at their Lovely Lane home in Belize City. The two-year-old has now been released in the care of his grandmother, but the other surviving child remains hospitalized. Here is Isani Cayetano with a report.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
Earlier today, twenty-seven-year-old Kenrick Longsworth appeared unrepresented before Chief Magistrate Sharon Frazer, as onlookers outside of the courtroom jeered and hurled insults at him. The unemployed resident of Lovely Lane is facing a single charge of murder and two counts of grievous harm for grave injuries inflicted on three-year-old Mark Tuyul Jr. His siblings, a younger and older brother, were also wounded during the frightening incident that took place at their home on the evening of January tenth. The alleged perpetrator has an extensive history of run-ins with the law.
Chester Williams
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
“He does have a long rap sheet, including shooting at police and it’s disappointing to see what had happened where he is concerned because everyone within that area knows him and knows what he is capable of but yet he was able to become a stepfather for three children. That’s a matter that we need to look into as a society.”
It’s something that psychotherapist Jennifer Lovell takes into careful consideration while reflecting on the weekend tragedy.
Jennifer Lovell, Psychotherapist
“I am always surprised when I see women meet a guy and just take them in and they have children because you have no idea what you are taking in if you don’t know this person and you can’t know a person in a week or in a month. It takes a while to spend time with the person and get to them and know what kind of attitudes they have, how they feel about children. You learn that over time.”
The family of the deceased toddler is on record stating that he was sexually abused. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams, in speaking with the media on Monday, says that the surviving siblings do not exhibit signs of similar cruelty. His comment is based on the findings of doctors who examined them at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.
Chester Williams
“The doctors have examined those two children and there is no sign of them being sexually molested.”
Of note is that Longsworth has not been charged for any crime of a sexual nature as it relates to this particular incident. It is not to say, however, that additional charges will not be levied on him.
Jennifer Lovell
“There’s a difference between being angry and being rageful. Someone who has that depth of rage that you could beat a child to death is a really angry person. And then not only beat the child to death but use his penis as a weapon to really inflict maximum harm, shame, degradation, control, power, everything negative that you can think about when a man uses his penis as a weapon and on a three-year-old.”
Longsworth’s mother, whom we must stress had nothing to do with the commission of the crime, is, herself, the victim of various forms of abuse. She insists that her children, Kenrick included, were never subjected to such physical violence.
Lavern Longsworth, Mother of Accused
“I raise three ah dehn without no pa. I raise dehn and I hustle hard fi my children dehn. I noh condone that because I love children.”
So where does that rage, anger and propensity for violence come from and what could have sparked such a vicious outburst?
Isani Cayetano
“Do you believe then that perhaps some kind of action or inaction on the part of the kids may have triggered this violent behavior?”
Jennifer Lovell
“They’re kids. Kids will be kids. Sometimes it could be something as simple as a parent or babysitter gives them food and they don’t want that kind of food so they’ll throw it down or throw it. They’re kids, he’s a three-year-old and that might have been the one that acted up.”
The Department of Human Services, says the ComPol, is critical to the ongoing investigation in order to determine what becomes of the two surviving brothers in the days ahead.
Chester Williams
“Mr. Cowo and Ms. Rhys who are the ones dealing with the investigation are in constant dialogue with Human Services because again, they need to look at the welfare of the other two children. Will a decision be made as to whether or not they remain with the mother, or will they have to be relocated. So there are several components that must be allowed to play out.”
Kenrick Longsworth has been remanded to the Belize Central Prison until March twelfth. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
