Murder victims’ remains sent to FBI

While Belize City residents anxiously await any break in the murder case of little Erica Wills, her remains have been sent to the FBI in Washington in the hopes that forensic specialists there can provide some clues about the cause of death. The nine year old girl’s bones were found on a feeder road behind the Belize Aggregates Quarry on the Western Highway. She disappeared after spending some time with relatives only a block away from home on June 26th. Personal belongings were identified by her mother, because vultures had consumed most of the corpse. According to Dr. Mario Estradabran, the police pathologist, because only sixty five out of over two hundred bones that form a child’s skeleton were recovered and none showed signs of violence, it was impossible for him to determine just how the young girl was murdered. The FBI lab is also assisting in identifying the remains of a child found on June sixth. Although it is believed they are those of nine year old Jay Blades, who went missing on October seventh, 1998, the bones were found along with personal items belonging to Sherilee Nicholas, another murdered child. The identities of both girls are now being questioned. This despite the fact that June Gabourel, Nicholas’ mother is positive the body she buried in October last year was her daughter. On June eleventh, Nicholas’ remains were exhumed at the Lord Ridge Cemetery. However they were not sent to the FBI lab immediately because police had difficulty locating the girl’s father to get blood samples. Today Estradabran told News Five they have found the father and he has submitted to the necessary tests. Both sets of remains have been sent to the United States. In the meantime, police continue to ask the public for any information that could assist in the investigations. The Government of Belize is offering a ten thousand dollar reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Erica Wills’ killer.