Two teenagers arrested for Ladyville murder
Residents of the Lord’s Bank community will sleep a little easier tonight knowing that two men have been arrested and charged for the cruel killing of Cruz Sho inside her home last Thursday. But perhaps what is equally disturbing about Sho’s murder is the fact that the accused murderers are teenagers.
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
Today eighteen year old Ryan Herrera and sixteen year old Ervin Franklin, both residents of Lords Bank Village, were arrested and charged with the brutal murder of twenty year old Cruz Sho. Authorities are now looking for the third suspect in the case, Franklin’s seventeen year old brother.
Jacqueline Godwin
“Where were these suspects found?”
G. Michael Reid, Police Press Officer
“One was found in Ladyville and the other was found in Orange Walk. Police went up to Orange Walk and did a search and found out where the individual was hiding. This entailed a lot of ground work and hard work on the part of the police also cooperation between the districts and a lot of cooperation on the part of the community because they were members of the community who saw what occurred and came forward and this has to be applauded.”
Police Press Officer G. Michael Reid says investigators strongly suggest robbery was the primary motive behind the crime but speculates that the perpetrators decided to kill Cruz because she would have been able to identify them.
G. Michael Reid
“Actually the police believe they have strong evidence against all three and that it should be a case that could go to court and get a conviction. Everything is being done to make sure that all the evidence is in place. It is unfortunate that a young woman had to lose her life like this and certainly everything will be done to ensure that justice is served.”
Jacqueline Godwin
“In speaking with Mister Eldon Chiac, Sho’s common law husband, he said that the police found at least one of the stolen items at one of the suspect’s home. Was it the house of any of these two suspects that you guys arrested?”
G. Michael Reid
“Yes, it was at one of the homes and we believe that will be used as evidence. I am not at liberty to discuss that any further but certainly we have strong evidence to indicate that these are the individuals who did commit the crime.”
Initial reports from Sho’s common law husband also suggested that the victim was three and a half months pregnant. However a post mortem conducted by police pathologist Dr. Mario Estradabran has found no evidence of pregnancy. But Estradabran says he has taken samples from the body to determine if Sho was also sexually assaulted during the attack. The murder weapon, believed to be a knife, has yet to be recovered. The afternoon killing has left residents of the Ladyville and Lords Bank communities concerned about their own safety. Today Reid assures the public that the police are doing what they can to strengthen security in the area but stresses it will take community support to get the job done.
G. Michael Reid
“It is kind of difficult when you live in an isolated areas or in areas where you are isolated but certainly we are asking everyone to be on the lookout for each other and do what they can to establish neighbourhood watches etc. and do anything possible to prevent anymore of these crimes from occurring.”
Sometime between two and five on Thursday afternoon, Cruz Sho was ambushed just outside her home on Old Well Road and forced inside where her hands and feet were bound. Sho’s half nude body was later found on the ground in a back bedroom with her throat slashed. Residents in the area later reported seeing three young men running away from her residence. On Sunday Cruz Sho was laid to rest near her home in the Toledo district.
