Teen disappears – claims she was kidnapped

The media houses have gotten together to try and get the message out to kids and parents to “Watch Yu Back, Anybody Could Be Jack” and today when it was reported that a Belize City student had gone missing, people came forward with information. The 13-year-old’s schoolmates from St. Mary’s told their teacher the girl had been seen Thursday evening on Lovely Lane. A family friend told News Five he had seen her with a BDF soldier and someone called KREM Radio to report they had seen her in the company of two men with a cream colored van. Thankfully, late this morning the child turned up, calling her family from a house on Wood Street near the Pound Yard. Not unlike a girl who was found wandering near “T” Street last week, this teen also appeared disoriented and said she had been hit in the head. But as police began to question the girl, a different story started to emerge. And it may actually be a case of “crying wolf.”

Jacqueline Woods, Reporting

Police are still trying to find out what happened to a 13 year old girl who had gone missing after she reportedly left home on her bike to attend evening classes at the Fort George Educational Centre on North Front Street.

Rosa Yearwood, Guardian

“She left about a 4:45, she left out from here because she said she had to get to classes for 5:00. So she left and I told her to remember not to stay out late, because every time they are going, I tell them not to stay out late, remember it is dangerous out there. She said “No ma. No ma, as school over I am coming.”

But by 7:45 Thursday night, the standard five student of St. Mary’s School had not come home. Family and neighbours desperately searched for the young girl fearing the worst may have happened.

Rosa Yearwood

“That’s the reason why 7:30 and minutes to 8:00 I start to get worried, according to all the things that are happening out here and I tell them everyday, everyday what happened. You see what happen, you see how they took the kids them you see what is happening you have good sense no stay out.”

Investigations have revealed that the 13-year-old girl never went to her evening classes at the Fort George Education Center. However she was seen near City Hall on North Front Street in the company of a man.

Emilio Miller, Family Friend

“And she stopped and asked me to give her a pen right? I took out the pen and issued it to her. There was BDF guy along with her. So the BDF rode off a little distance and waited for her. Shortly after I tell her it’s getting late to go home. Both of them ride off.”

Today students from St. Mary’s School told their teacher that they saw their classmate on Lovely Lane late Thursday evening. This morning police received word that the missing student had turned up.

Jacqueline Woods

“Sometime after 11:00 this morning, the young girl came to this house and asked its owner if she could borrow the phone to call her mother. The woman, who did not want to appear on camera, says the girl appeared nervous, was crying and claims that some men in a car told her to get into the vehicle or they would kill her mother. The girl alleges that after she got inside, she was taken to Lord’s Ridge Cemetery, then thrown out of the vehicle. She claimed she then walked to Wood Street.

However, when the police arrived at the house they saw the girl’s bike leaning against the side of the house. Nearby residents told News Five they saw her girl late Thursday evening speaking to a man on the street in front of the house. So far Police tell News Five they are questioning the student and the matter remains under investigation.

Reporting for News Five I am Jacqueline Woods.

Police told News Five late this afternoon they are now investigating the possibility that the girl was actually with a “friend” the entire time and was not abducted by anyone in a car. Depending on the result of the investigation, her companion could face charges. While this incident appears to have been a false alarm, it was heartening to see people come forward with information. Channel Five would like to urge all Belizean children and their parents to stay on the alert and remember “to watch yu back, anybody could be Jack.”