2 Minors Missing from Ladyville Area
Juanito Cocom
At end of day Tuesday, three persons were missing in the Belize District – a sixteen-year-old female from Los Lagos, a sixteen-year-old female from Ladyville and a twenty-two-year old Guatemalan female from Vista del Mar. In at least one of those cases being handled by Ladyville Police, there is some good news. Guatemalan Mindy Espino was reported missing by her companion, an elderly American male, on Monday. He told police that she left their home in Los Lagos to visit with family in her native Guatemala and he lost contact with her on December eleventh. But Espino is fine. She visited the Ladyville Police Station to report that she was staying with an aunt in Las Flores, Belmopan.The other two cases, both minors who allegedly left home voluntarily, are both being investigated. Today, Inspector JuanitoCocom of the Ladyville Police Formation told News Five that the police must spring into action whenever there is a report of a missing person, particularly when a minor is involved.
Insp. Juanito Cocom, O.C., Ladyville Police
“You must bear in mind that a sixteen year old has still not reach the age of an adult, so she is still regarded as a minor.”
Reporter
“So could you run us through maybe how Police would handle a report of a sixteen year old who is reported missing?”
Insp. Juanito Cocom
“We have in place a Missing Persons Policy to deal specifically with these types of incidents. It’s a long document but it has basic items. When we receive the information we should get complete details of the child, including physical characteristics, appearance, age, clothing, area last seen and we should also obtain recent photographs. Descriptions of the child and clothing should be broadcast by our control room to all patrolling officers. Likewise we should submit this report to all our formations, particularly those that have entry points. The child might have been abducted or is to be removed from the jurisdiction of Belize, hence the reason we inform our ports of entry.”
Reporter
“In the case of this sixteen year old, we understand that there is no speculation at this time that she is the victim of an abduction.”
Insp. Juanito Cocom
“In this case, no. However we still must investigate the incident.”
