Community remembers murdered children
In the last ten months four Belize City children have been murdered. All disappeared from the area of Belize City near Euphrates Avenue. Last night a candlelight vigil was held in this area to express outrage at the killings and solidarity with the families of the murdered children. The organizers, the National Committee for Families and Children, NOPCA, the Family Services Division, BOWAND and the Baptist Mission, hoped the event would rouse the community from its apathy and indifference towards the crimes. While many in the neighborhood ignored the procession as if the violence has nothing to do with them, those who marched through the streets did express the desire for an end to the violence and committed themselves to looking out for each other’s children. News Five was there for the evening of prayers, songs, sorrow and anger.
The four hour candlelight vigil was held in memory of thirteen year old Sherilee Nicholas, twelve year old Jackie Fern Malic, nine year old Jay Blades and nine year old Erica Wills. The four primary school students who resided on the southside of Belize City were all abducted and murdered over the past ten months.
Rev. Ashley Rocke, Baptist Mission
“What were the crimes that these little girls committed? And the reply would simply be that they were less privileged and lived under ill dependent circumstances.”
There were many sentiments expressed by those who attended. People
still cannot understand why our children are being raped and killed or why in such a small country there has only been one arrest and there are no other leads into the murders.
Kayla Arnold
“I am so mad, I could scream. I am so mad, I could spit, turn over a table, run off in a snit.”
The vigil included a procession that stopped at four stations along the route to remember the young victims.
Kendra Buller, 13 Years Old
“This country and each and every one of us men and women and even children need to get up and do something and not let these incidents slip through our minds.”
One person who knows the pain of losing a child so tragically is June Gabourel. Her daughter Sherilee Nicholas, was the first girl to disappear. Her mutilated body was discovered on October eighth, 1998.
June Gabourel, Mother
“It has been very painful and this pain I just can’t express. I can’t even explain just how painful it is. It is only me who can feel it.”
Although some people were disappointed by the turnout for the vigil, which was less than a thousand people, Gabourel was comforted by those who took the time to attend the event.
June Gabourel
“I feel good about the crowd that turned out tonight; it makes me feel so good that a lot of people turned out. As everybody should know it was my daughter who was killed and three more and this is a good turn out.”
The organizers of the vigil say they hope the awareness of the need to protect our children has been heightened and stress that the community needs to come together in this time of crisis.
The government of Belize has offered a ten thousand dollar reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of Erica Wills’ killer. A forty year old mechanic, Mike Williams has been charged with the murder of Jackie Fern Malic. She was abducted and killed in March. Police say they have no suspects in any of the other cases.
