1 year since Rash kids—Onelia and Benjamin—went missing

Onelia Rash

Today marks one year since eleven year old Benjamin Rash and his sister, nine year old Onelia of San Marcos Village in the Toledo District disappeared without a trace. The brother and sister were last sighted selling limes and craboos in Cattle Landing Village outside of Punta Gorda Town.  Countless search parties combed the entire area for weeks, but the Rash children were never found. What transpired next caught everyone off-guard.  Villagers took matters in their own hands and the house of US citizens, Cherie and Vince Rose along with their adjoining Croc Sanctuary; all valued at one million dollars were set on fire by an angry mob.

Benjamin Rash

The destruction resulted from a claim by Delfina Selgado of a vision that the Rose’s were responsible for the disappearance of the missing children. While the Rose’s property was searched along with the American Crocodile Education Sanctuary, nothing linking them to the missing children was ever found. To mark the one year since the children vanished, the community, family and friends held a service for them today.  While most believe that the two siblings have perished, the Rash family is still clinging to hope that they are alive because their bodies were never found.