Missing teen found dead
Today the worst fears of a missing girl’s family and friends were confirmed. The body of 14 year old Noemi Hernandez was found at the mouth of the Belize River apparently murdered. A BDF Soldier made the discovery around 11:00am but it was several hours before the child’s clothing was identified by the father. The St. Ignatius student, who lived Waight Street, never came back after being sent on an errand on Mosul Street on the afternoon of February 15th. News Five was on the scene at the start of the investigation.
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
The decomposed body, later identified as that of 14 year old Noemi Hernandez, was found on a sandy mound at the mouth of the Belize River about half a mile away from the Haulover Bridge. It was partially in the water and lying faced down. The remains were brought onto the land where they were immediately examined Dr. Mario Estradabran, the Police Chief Pathologist.
Dr. Mario Estradabran, Chief Police Pathologist
“The body is very very young person and as you probably know already it is a female. Her approximate height is about five feet and two inches more or less. I am working on the age but I have to tell you that she is a very very young person not fully developed.”
The body was clad only in a Jordache blue jeans. It was missing the head, had no left arm and some fingers were missing. Although Estradabran says these body parts came off during the process of decomposition, he says he also observed multiple stab wounds indicating young Hernandez was murdered. He cannot however comment at this point on any similarities to the previous murders.
Dr. Mario Estradabran
“The injuries inflicted to the victim, most of them were located on the trunk and basically to the face and the nape of the neck.”
Jacqueline Woods
Describe these injuries to us.
Dr. Mario Estradabran
“Okay the injuries are very characteristic to stabbing injuries.”
It is believed the young girl was killed about six to eight days ago. Although her father, Francis Hernandez, identified the blue jeans as belonging to his daughter this afternoon, this morning he and the rest of the family were still hoping for the best and wanted her to come home.
Francis Hernandez, Father
“We all do love her very much we care about her and we just want her to come back home. We are not mad at her in anyway, shape or form. Whatever the problem is, the issue is, just come back, that is all we are asking of you, just come back. That’s all we are asking of you to just come back.”
Unfortunately Noemi Hernandez won’t be coming back.
Hernandez is the fifth Belize City girl to be murdered in the last two years and the second from St. Ignatius School. It is still not clear if the cases are related. All of the previous murders are still unsolved and are being handled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Police Forensic Department has taken samples from Hernandez’s body for further analysis and DNA tests.
