Woman is hacked to death and her husband is on the lam

Julia Moran

A mother of one was murdered in her house in Caye Caulker; her mutilated body was found around noon hidden under clothes on her bed. Her family says Julia Moran who is originally from San Pedro Columbia, lived in an abusive relationship with her husband of several years.  Tonight, he is on the lam and has taken their nine year old son. Police believe he may be heading west to his home country of Guatemala. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.

Isani Cayetano, Reporting

The brutal murder of twenty-eight year old Julia Moran, her body discovered inside a bedroom, stabbed and hacked multiple times by her enraged husband, has culminated what friends and family describe as years of domestic abuse.  Shortly before midday, Caye Caulker police visited Moran’s home on Estella Street where they encountered a grisly crime scene.

Delfin Zuniga

Sgt. Delfin Zuniga, Officer in Charge of Caye Caulker Police Station

“About 11:30 a.m., this morning, Wednesday, twelfth of June, information was received about a female that was apparently found dead, was apparently dead [inside] her residence in the Black Neighborhood area of Caye Caulker Village.  The police responded and upon arrival at the residence the front door was locked and necessary force was used to open the door.”

When the officers breached the wooden door they did not immediately come across Moran’s corpse.  Upon further inspection, the body was found on her bed beneath a heap of clothing.  Her neighbor, Benedict Lopez, says he overheard an altercation between Julia and her husband Sergio Moran inside the couple’s home sometime around midnight.

Benedict Lopez

Benedict Lopez, Neighbor

“I heard a ruction about 12:30 this morning when the guy came home.  He works at Roses, he’s a chef, good chef, also plays soccer too.  I heard him knock on the door, I was outside sitting down.  He knocked on the door and his girlfriend didn’t respond, she didn’t respond so he kicked open the door and went in.  Actually, they always go through family dispute, I don’t get in between that you know.  After forty-five minutes it seems that they sat down and talked, after forty-five minutes they had a ruction in the house.  When I heard the ruction me and my girlfriend opened the door and we came outside and started to look.  We didn’t see anything and I came a little closer and I heard when he said, “Callate tu boca puta yo matarlo ahorita.”

Shortly thereafter, Moran butchered his wife of several years.  Her murder, it would seem, was inevitable.

Benedict Lopez

“This guy always sharpens a machete, a small machete, one ah dehn lee half-a-machete and tell ahn dis da fi you.”

According to Julia’s cousin, Laura Che, describes her as a socialite.

Laura Che, Relative of Deceased

“She was a very outgoing person.  No not necessarily, she did not mention anything about her relationship to me that it was in this state of matter so I can’t tell you much about it, you know, but it’s so sad to see her, you know, die this kind of way, you know.”

Laura Che

Isani Cayetano

“What was she like on a day to day basis, I know you said that you didn’t see her as often as you probably wanted but what can you tell us about her as an individual?”

Laura Che

“She’s a hard working young lady and she’s very independent, you know, that I can tell you.  You’ll always find her outgoing on the streets saying hi to everybody and things like that, you know, but I don’t really know about the situation that happened today.  I cannot really tell you much about it.”

Caye Caulker police have sent out an all points bulletin for the apprehension of Sergio Moran, whom they believe is attempting to flee the country.

Sergio Moran

Sgt. Delfin Zuniga

“Her husband, who is the prime suspect in this investigation, is on the loose and presently we are looking for him. Checks made on the island so far reveal that he is not on the island and we were made to understand that sometime this morning, he was seen in the caye caulker water taxi area. Checks were made in that area, but he was nowhere to be found.”

Isani Cayetano

“Has there been a bulletin issued for his apprehension?”

Sgt. Delfin Zuniga

“Yes an information message has been sent to…especially the border points because he is apparently a Guatemalan national.”

Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.