Candle light procession for Neisa before prom
The Pallotti High School prom was set for Saturday, the same day that Neisa’s body was found. It was a most painful and difficult time for the graduates and families. News’ Five Marion Ali reports on how her murder re-shaped prom night.
Marion Ali, reporting
Prom night for graduates who received their diplomas last Sunday from Pallotti High School was not the same this year. While the event was not cancelled, its format was significantly restructured.
And while school is closed, some of the students joined Neisa Pipersburgh’s mother, Alice Williams, in front of the Brown Sugar pavilion on North Front Street to hold a procession for the teen who should have been at prom that night. But she didn’t because her body was discovered earlier on Saturday on a dirt road off the Western highway at mile six.
The procession led by a traffic vehicle from in front of the venue, was conducted by Pallotti High School Principal, Sister Mary Clara, and many of Neisa’s fellow graduates, their dates, former teachers and friends. They walked up North Front Street, around the traffic gazebo near the swing bridge before returning to their event.
Along the way, family and friends consoled Neisa’s grieving mother, who was the last person to see her alive last Wednesday when she disappeared from home. And while she has no proof, she has strong suspicion that her daughter’s killer was a neighbor.
Alice Williams, Mother of Murdered Teen
alice williams
“She went missing at ten fifteen and that was the time I left so that means that as I left they went there and they took her.”
Duane Moody
“Aye, you gone dah school noh?”
(Alice Williams shakes head yes.)
Duane Moody
“Soh you think dah ih neighbor?”
Alice Williams
“I noh think, I know, nobody can’t tell me. I know it’s him.”
And while Neisa’s mother suspects who murdered her daughter, police are still trying to gather evidence to this end. But the autopsy that was conducted at the scene was inconclusive and additional tests are necessary to determine how the young graduate met her death. Meanwhile, some of Neisa’s friends who gathered to mourn her death shared their thoughts with us on the heartless murder.
Denise Escalante, Friend of Neisa Pipersburgh
“People have to be more, have their eyes open and look out for people. As they hear wah lee noise, you peep. Always be on the lookout because only soh we could try resolve weh deh the happen dah Belize. We have fi look out fi one another.”
Giovanni Escalante, Friend of Neisa Pipersburgh
“Ih just really sad because dah wahn young lady and ih just graduate and ih noh get fi live life yet and ih done gone like that eena wah very cruel way.”
neisa pipersburgh
Tiffhawn Olivera, friend of Neisa Pipersburgh
“We just see she Sunday di walk up and accept ih diploma and ih sad cause she coulda mi deh yah dah prom with we, have fun and they just cut ih life short fi no reason. That unnecessary.”
Britanny Vernon, fellow graduate
“It could have been any one of us. She just graduated Sunday and Wednesday something like this happen. It’s really disappointing. Come on what is Belize turning to?”
Monique Escalante, fellow graduate
“Whatever law there is to put on this man, he should get the full laws set on him—nothing should be left out. He should get everything.”
Because of the advance state of decomposition, Neisa’s family could not spend much time planning her burial. They laid her to rest on Saturday just hours after her remains were found. Marion Ali for News Five.
I hope that the rest of the students learned a very important lesson from the unfortunate death of Neisa.
Always, always let someone know where you going before you leave your house.
Always, let your family knows who your friends are.
Always, let your family and friends knows who your enemies are.
avoid going out alone.
R.I.P neisa.
I am a 100 % sure that this girl was murdered by a close neighbour who knew her daily, he was obsessed and loose himself cause he couldnt have his way with her .so he sit and stalk her out ,god knows this was premeditatedly done ,his heart was pounding fast and he was a bit nervous but he realizes this was his oppurtunity and he could,nt let this moment past.he took her hostage until it was more calm and then he put her in a car tied and bound already unconcous and he killed her. He was sending a little message to her MOM this is exactly what happen.its the neighbour 100%.
it really breaks the heart of every single belizean that reads this type of news. i thing is that many young teen avoid the communication with their parents about love realationships. it need parents and teen to be more openly to avoid these things. i personally feel the the young lady must have wanted to share her harrsment but due to lack of confidencethese things happens. please moms dads be more open to your teens they need you more than ever in this stage of life. this is when decisions need to be made by both ( parents & teens ) dealing with relationships. i went through it but thanks to open comunication i got married on my let twenties with a lovely wife which i cherish and hoping to be the same with my kids very openly. R.I.P my belizean sister and condolence to you grieving mom.
it’s true, children lack that communication with their parents especially today when so many bad things keep happening. Her death was horrible and so sad, according to her people she was a sweet girl. But I sincerely hope her death serves a lesson even in the short term of how you must invovle your parents because only they are the most eager to protect you. My condolences to her mother…may she find peace in the joys she shared with her daugther.
Please start the investigation with the clung that she had just end a relationship with.I bet this was thesame idiot that was texing this young lady.For your information fool your text is still going to show up on the phone records.
Mothers need to keep their daughters focus on getting an education. The lack of communication usually sets in when they reach teenaged years and they feel like they can handle school and boyfriend. Parents set rules in the home and constantly remind them the purpose of these rules. Let the children understand what their priority are….getting an education. Teens don’t understand that boyfriend and partying will eventually come later on in life….when the time is right all this will come. It is our duty, parents, to protect our children. Don’t let technology take over your basic moral values. Know who and where your children are at all times…that is your responsibilities. Parents take away the cell phones and communicate with your children daily. If you don’t the wrong person will……..and you will be the ones hurted.
I am sure the mother’s gut feeling is right.. I just hope the people who saw something, know something or fiends who know who she was involved with can give the police the leads they need to get the evidence to arrest him and SUCCESSFULLY prosecute him… we do not need another “nolli prosqui” in court. Does anyone know who she was taking to prom or who was upset that he was not being taken to prom?
if the so called ex boyfreind did this I just want to let him know, that chances are he might get away from our justice system, but to my Jess from God you cannot hide, so you better repent and give in yourself cause sooner than later cause God will send some bad spirit to torments you soon, you will have sleepless night, and you will feel somebody close to you, watching you, believe me, what you did to this young woman will not go away so easy.
REPENT, REPENT!!!
ALL I COULD SAY ………. I HAVE A 17 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER MY SELF >>>>>>>>>>>>> AN EYE FOR AN EYE ……………… RICHTON PARK , IL
WHAT IS MY COUNTRY COMMING TO>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Let’s hope the police gets this one right but I won’t hold my breath. No parent can protect their child from an animal determined to kill her. Folks, we have all kept things from our parents, there are things that my children don’t tell me & sometimes they tell me stuff I wish they hadn’t but we cannot protect our daughters from lunatics who cannot take rejection. Rather than look for ways that she could have prevented her own demise, we should ask who raised the animal that did this & if he is not prosecuted, how many more young women will die?