An Elderly Woman is Bludgeoned to Death in Remote Area of Sand Hill

Ofelia Hernandez Cruz

Mexican national Ofelia Hernandez Cruz lived in Belize for years with her husband; he is the caretaker at a property in an isolated area of Sand Hill Village. But on Tuesday afternoon, as Cruz was home alone, she was attacked by two young men who came looking for her husband’s licensed shotgun. They were able to retrieve the weapon, but not before callously taking the life of the elderly woman when she was hammered over the head. Cruz was rushed to the K.H.M.H., but was pronounced dead on arrival. News Five’s Duane Moody reports.

Duane Moody, Reporting

A sixty-nine-year-old woman was bludgeoned to death in a home invasion in an isolated area of Sand Hill Village on Tuesday afternoon. Sometime around four p.m., Ofelia Hernandez Cruz was at her home at the end of Salt Creek Road when two men arrived on a scooter. They entered the house and demanded the firearm, which is the property of her husband. Before the two assailants escaped with a twelve-gauge shot gun, Cruz was struck to the head and body with a hammer. Even as she screamed for help, the attack ended fatally and she was discovered face down inside the house by police later that evening.

Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police

“Sometime yesterday evening, police were called to the Salt Creek area of Sand Hill Village in a remote area and inside a home; they found a beaten and lifeless body of a female, Miss Ofelia. She was rushed to the K.H.M.H., but was pronounced dead on arrival. Police have been in the area since yesterday trying to look for leads.”

Hipolito Novelo

“Sir are there any signs of a break in?”

Chester Williams

“There seems to be none. She was at home at the time, so the house apparently was open. So the persons who went there had access without breaking in any doors or whatever.”

Hipolito Novelo

“So you believe it is more than one person?”

Chester Williams

“From what we gather, it may be more than one person.”

Cruz was home alone at the time of the attack; her husband, who is the caretaker at the private property, left home earlier that day and headed out of the village. The assailants took the opportunity to enter the property and carry out the crime. One of the attackers then exited the house, got on the scooter and drove off; the other was picked up a short distance away as he took a path through nearby bushes.

Chester Williams

“She does not live alone; she lived along with her husband, from what I have been brief, but yes, at the time, she was alone. What has been stolen? We are still trying to determine if anything was stolen from the house.”

Chester Williams

Reporter

“Is the police aware if the husband owned a firearm?”

Chester Williams

“I think he is a licensed holder of a shotgun. We have detained a couple persons of interests and we are still looking for two more persons of interest. We are trying to see what the possible motive is with respect to that particular homicide. At this time, there isn’t much that we have obtained. At this time, there isn’t much that we have obtained. Like I said, it is a remote area; not much people reside in the area, but we do have leads that we are following.”

News Five has been informed that a scooter is also in police custody. Duane Moody for News Five.