Woman murdered in front of kids in Burrell Boom

While the legal debate over a loan continues to rage, the life of a woman ended on Thursday night at her home. The woman, Mercedes Carrillo, had just moved to Burrell Boom Village to begin a new life. The forty year old mother was allegedly in an abusive relationship and it is the man in question who took her life. Shortly before midnight, the nurse was stabbed twice—once to the abdomen and then under the left breast. Carrillo’s children attempted to save their mother from the hands of her former boyfriend. News Five’s Duane Moody has this report.

Duane Moody, Reporting
Mercedes Carrillo was brutally killed in front of her children by a man she knew. Carrillo, who was a nurse at Belize Health Care Partners, was at home with her three kids when the door to her apartment was broken in by her boyfriend. He attacked her with a knife, stabbing her twice. Her eldest daughter, Diana, jumped to her rescue but to no avail. She was rushed to the K.H.M.H., but while undergoing treatment, she succumbed to the injuries.

Voice of: Ofelia Carrillo, Sister of Deceased
“Eventually she met up with this person which give ah wah terrible life. I noh wah tell yoh how much years or nothing but ih mi give ah wah terrible life and ih led up to ih death. Just noh even two weeks she moved from di neighbourhood and she gone live back ah Boom, but sadly last night mi niece call me and seh dat di bust eena di and jump afta she but all three children jump and try fight ah but he brutally knock dehn down and gone after dehn ma.”

Cpl. Jorge Lemus, Deputy O.C., Ladyville Police
“Police visited the K.H.M.H. trauma room where they observed a female suffering from stab wounds to the left side of the abdomen and under the left breast.”

According to Ofelia, “Mercy”, as she was affectionately known, moved to Burrell Boom only two weeks ago to escape the abusive relationship that she was in, but the accused, Jason Lawrence, followed her.

Duane Moody
“She was in an abusive relationship with who?”

Voice of: Ofelia Carrillo
“Yes, she was in an abusive relationship and she mi somebody weh mi always keep it. I noh know if dis person mi di threaten her or anything because always dehn tell ah if something wrong mek she tell we but I noh know. But from ih got dehn three pickney wid somebody like dat, yoh neva know weh dehn di do ah right.”

Duane Moody
“I understand it was her oldest daughter that stabbed di person eena ih back.”

Voice of: Ofelia Carrillo
“Eventually, yes because, as I tell yoh three ah dehn mi di struggle when he mi di approach dehn mother. Di son tek wah guitar and lash him eena di back. But still dehn children so small dat he just knock dehn off brutally. I tell yoh something brutal dehn children witness noh, only God could tell yoh weh happen to my sista. Only God could tell yoh.”

Duane Moody
“And this wasn’t the first time that he beat her?”

Voice of: Ofelia Carrillo
“No, dah no di first time.”

It is believed that the murder could have been prevented. News Five understands that prior to the stabbing, Mercedes had made a call to the Officer in Charge of the Burrell Boom Precinct, Corporal Darius Martinez, to report that Lawrence had threatened her life, but she received no help. And according to Officer in Charge of Ladyville Police, Inspector Calbert Flowers, the matter will be investigated.

Insp. Calbert Flower, O.C., Ladyville Police
“First time I am hearing of it, but we will definitely look into that.”

Lawrence was charged late this even with the crime of murder. Duane Moody, reporting for News Five.