Body of a 12 year old girl found half nude
Tonight we have more disturbing news to report of yet another member of the Police Department who is under investigation. And if the news earlier this week of rogue cops named in the recent killing of Hui Li Chen in Orange Walk Town was not bad enough, the investigation of another officer’s possible involvement in the suspicious death of a missing child puts another black eye on the Police Department. Twelve year old Saida Noemi Godoy Veliz was reported missing on March thirteenth by her grandmother Antonia Garrido of Frank’s Eddy Village. The family immediately felt she was in trouble. Saida’s body was discovered around eight on Tuesday night half-dressed in a ditch off a dirt road in Cotton Tree Village. While the post mortem today was inconclusive because of the advance state of decomposition, Belmopan police had an early lead and have not ruled out foul play. Special Constable Luis Guerra was detained and questioned but has been released.
Sgt. Solomon Westby, C.I.B., Belmopan Police
“There was no sign according to the doctor that any weapon or any object has been use in the case of this situation. That’s the reason why he wrote as an undetermined situation.”
Marion Ali
“So it could have been strangulation?”
Sgt. Solomon Westby
”Probably, what the doctor did rule is that there was possibly injuries on certain parts of the body that why certain of the body had started to decompose from specific areas. We he ruled that she died about twelve to thirteen days ago.”
Keith Swift, Channel 7
“Mr. Chi you mentioned the gentleman that have been obtained was Special Constable Luis Guerra, why was he suspected?”
Inspector David Chi, Deputy O.C., Belmopan Police
“Based on our preliminary investigation, there were sudden information gathered so the police carried out an investigation, where later he was subsequently release because of the information we have gathered or the evidence we have gathered.”
Keith Swift
“Is he still a suspect at this time or a person of interest?”
Inspector David Chi
”Of course, he is a person of interest up to this point and our investigation is ongoing and as soon as we gather more information in respect to the investigation, substantive information, the police will then make an arrest. He’s still a person of concern but there is not any substantive evidence at this point to indicated that Mr. Guerra have done any wrong to that child”
Marion Ali
“So I guess the post mortem could not also determine whether or not she was sexually molested?”
Inspector David Chi
”The post mortem could not determine that at this point”
Keith Swift
“Mr. Chi, what do you make of this crime, a twelve year old girl murdered?”
Inspector David Chi
“It‘s a hideous crime, it is something that is of great concern to every citizen of this country. If you can remember some time back we had five young females in murdered in Belize City. I had worked on that investigation. We have to be—I can advise parents, guardians or anyone, citizens on a whole, to be aware of young children, not only females, both males ad females that they see on the street to just be a look to be a safe guard these kids on the street.”
While police say they may bring charges against Special Constable Luis Guerra, they are also looking at another possible lead; someone who they feel can help in their investigation.
