Family celebrates posthumous birthday of murdered teen mother

raylene dyer

In other news, remember Raylene Dyer? She was the young mother who was murdered on October eighth in a most bizarre plot allegedly masterminded by her friend. Three men confessed to the crime saying that the body was dumped in the Belize River in the area of Roaring Creek. Still grieving, the family has attempted to move on.  Today Dyer’s family held a celebration to mark her nineteenth birthday. News Five’s Delahnie Bain reports.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

Eighteen year old Raylene Dyer was murdered in a most horrendous way about two months ago, allegedly because a friend wanted her three month old child. Her body was never found, but today her family is celebrating her life and her nineteenth birthday.

Indira Cayetano, Raylene’s Sister

indira cayetano

“Today we are having a memorial mass. It’s been a while since my sister passed away. We didn’t find anything. The Mass will be here at Saint Joseph Church at five-thirty and then at my house on Coney Drive, we’re going to have a big birthday party. Everybody is there right now cooking. We have cake and drinks and everything cause she always looked forward to her birthday. She would have been nineteen today.”

Delahnie Bain

“What is this for the family, closure?”

Indira Cayetano

“Not quite closure as such but we have accepted and everybody; my granny from Dangriga—everybody come together because in my culture we really celebrate death because we realize better we celebrate her life that she lived although we didn’t find her body.”

aracely cahueque

Dyer’s oldest sister, Indira Cayetano, says it’s been a tough time for the family, but they have support.

Indira Cayetano

“To be honest, sometimes it hurts and this is the time when you know who are your friends and who are on your side because we have had people who bring stuff for the baby, who talk to us, we get phone calls, emails and people—in Belize although there are bad people, there are good people also.”

Delahnie Bain

“And how is the baby doing?”

Indira Cayetano

“She is doing wonderful; growing well, getting big and fat. I saw her today. I see her almost every day. She is doing very well.”

Brandon Budna

Cayetano says they haven’t gotten much news on the four persons who were charged, including Aracely Cahueque, the friend believed to have plotted Dyer’s murder.

Indira Cayetano

“Other than the fact that they went to jail and got a new court date and the police men are working with the rosary and doing some forensic testing so I’m hoping this will be one of the first forensic case like different programs I watch on TV. I’m just hoping that something will come out of my sister’s death. I want everybody to know she’s gone but not forgotten. [crying]”

Delahnie Bain for News Five.

Jason Anderson & Darren Banner

The other suspects are Jason Anderson, Darren Banner and Brandon Budna, who were all charged with Murder. Aracely Cahueque, the alleged mastermind, was also charged with Murder and Abetment to Murder.