Two kids, 9 and 11 years old, missing in Punta Gorda
Benjamin Rash
Onelia Rash
The Rash family in San Marcos, Toledo is on a desperate search for eleven year old Benjamin and nine year old Onelia Rash. Their father, Pedro Rash, reported to police that on Monday his children, both primary school students, headed toward the San Marcos junction. Pedro says he met his brother, Domingo Rash, and left the children in his care to continue to Punta Gorda Town, but they never returned. According to Domingo he last saw them in the Hopeville area of Punta Gorda that day but Punta Gorda police have confirmed that they were seen further away from the outskirts of town. News Five this evening spoke via telephone with Robert Mariano, the Officer Commanding the Punta Gorda police formation.
robert mariano
Via Phone: Robert Mariano, O.C. Punta Gorda Police
“On Monday, the thirtieth of August about eleven p.m,. Pedro Rash, thirty-eight years, farmer of San Marcos Village, Toledo District, visited the Punta Gorda Town police station where he made a report that his two children namely Onelia Rash, nine years old and Benjamin Rash, eleven years old, were sent to Punta Gorda Town to sell lime and craboo and at the time of making the report had not returned home. Since then the children have not been located. Investigations were carried out and the investigation shows that the children was last seen in Cattle Landing Village on the Southern Highway about three-forty-five p.m. trying to catch a ride apparently to go back home.”
Isani Cayetano
“Mr. Mariano do you know whether or not at this point this particular, these kids who are missing may have gone missing as a result of the flooding in that particular area over the past few days?”
Via Phone: Robert Mariano
“Well I don’t think so because the area where they were last seen, there was no flooding in that area.”
Both children are of Maya descent and Benjamin, who is about five feet in height, was dressed in a blue T-shirt with red sleeves, black short pants and green slippers. Onelia, who is only about three feet six inches tall with shoulder length hair, was wearing a red blouse, black skirt and had bare feet. Anyone knowing the whereabouts of the children are asked to contact the nearest police station.
This smells like fish to me.
We’ll keep praying for their safe return.
Even though the crimes against kids in belize continue to affect lives, parents are still taking the risk of sending their kids right into the hands of monsters waiting to pounce on their kids.
The father said that he met his brother Domingo and left the kids in his care, Doming is sayin that he last saw the kids elsewhere that day., meaning the kids were not left in his care at all(This story is missing some important elements here)
Anyway, I hope those kids are found very soon alive and well, and can go home safely.
Some one is making money by selling children to be used for body parts,kidneys,heart ,eyes liver whatever. Look at the people who are making a lot of money doing nothing or have some small store just to use for cover up. When will the leaders of the country do something for the people of Belize and stop thinking about themselves.
it’s a pity that some kids have to sell to help the family, it’s really hurting because they risk their health and life in total. hopefully someone will see them and please call the police, but i’d say that the father has some responsability of sending young kids far from home to sell, like two months ago they tried to kidnap a little boy in bullet tree also but luckily he got away in cayo from his captor in the market area, later in the night they found him around the hodes place very frigthened and he realted the kidnap. this never made it to the news maybe the family didn’t want to or either the police never made the report to the media, which they we’re some caucasion people who did it, we can never say american s becuase they have alot of caucasion from different countries. but the point is that this kid was lucky, i say this with respect from the family and for the bravery of the little boy who instinct help to free himself.
parents need to be extra vigilant of their children in the times we are living, I am at wonder how these parents will send two young children to sell craboo in town, I can’t understand this, I know we are living in hard times, but as a father I rather work out my ass, but never send my children into town all by themsleves. Parents have to understand there are evil people walking around, trying to devour our children.The father need to give some explanation about this incident.
I pray these angels are found in good health, and that there be some investigation on the parents of Benjamin and Onelia.
Am I the only one that finds this story utterly disturbing? Why in the world were they going to sell these goods without an adult? Yes I know times are hard and that that is how life has been for them but times change and so should they. it is called adaptation and our children should not be exploited I dnt care how bad the living situation is.
Although this is a sad case for the family. and also because it may their way of living to sell fruits. it is against the law to have children in labor. These kids are babies and the father should be charged for social reasons! What a shame…i hope they’re found
I agree with the officer. Its not the flood that contributed to the lose of these kids. Something very funny happening. Be on the lookout officer
It is sad that such young children in Belize have to be working instead of learning or playing. Can’t we make a better life for the next generation?
Mein this is crazy. What are these kids doing on the street in another town. Come on parents. Kids dont ask to come to this world. Dont make kids then you can’t take care of them. How can this father send these kids so far to sell stuff. Can he get up and find jobs that can help him take care of his kids. Its sad to see that kids have to find there own food. Its nothing for kids to give a little hand. they can sell somewhere near their house or if they have to go far make an adult accomapany them. Why did not the father go. Kids are very inquisive and will venture into places they never see. Kids dont know danger. We as parents have to be on our heals and toes teaching them stuff. i think we need to enforce our laws to protect our kids. Parents are using their kids to get free money from men. Report are made to the proper authorities and they dont do anythig about it. This father should be held responsible for these kids. If these kids are not found they should charge him. My kids go to school and im scared when they are not home at the time they were suposed to. He should have gone o pick them up. No but all he probably worrying about is how much money they were bringing. So sad mein. Wish these kids are found and in good condition. All kids need to be resposible for at such a young age is the little chores at home, taking care of themselves and their studies. thats all
am very dissapointed I called dis morning to make a coment but was told that at the moment they could not recieve my call but was told that they would call me and never did, my coment is soemthign very serious dat is affecting us and many people.I want you to mntion this on ur radio talk,we the poor importers of fruiits and vegetable have to be paying the Belize Marketing and Development Corporation 5 cent per lbs of potatoes,carrots,and cabbage our question is,is it illegal for a corporation to charge us and why we have to pay we were told at the office of the Ministry of Agriculture dat if we dont pay they cant sign our application for permits to bring our good pls I need the PM to address this before we the importers get togeather and sue.
thanks we have prove we have our reciepts dat we pay enough prove
Gross NEGLIGENCE……………
I can’t belive punta gorda is starting to do this nansense. Please do not try to do like belize. Please police try your best to find the poor little childrens. I can try to find them too. If Ifind them I will call police. Thanks
Souad well said. I agree 100 PERCENT.
This crime situation in Belize is like a Virus and it’s infecting the entire Jewel.No one in Belize in immune to this lawlesness.
If the Father handed them off to the Uncle, then those 2 need to start talking to police. Why in the heck did the villagers go and burn down ACES?????? (American Crocodile Education Sanctuary). They had nothing to do with this tragedy, and the parents had everything to do with it.
Viola: I’m curious to know why you said you can “try to find them”. Are you in the area or know the area? And what is this “nansense” you are referring to? Just wondering.
mein this crop! den Americans d come ina we country to do their nasty deeds, the man who kidnapp these angels needs a bullet in the head.
mein this is crop! den Americans d come ina we country to do their nasty deeds, the man who kidnapp these angels needs a bullet in the head.
dats wy d …. parents gat hands an foot fi walk an selll if dem so need money… now dem gat all d energy in a d whole fkin g wrld fi go bun down a house…!!!! wy will dat white man want dem two lil childern huh????! fk a dat whole village…!! dem put shame pan lata ppl especialy d maya race…!!
I believe that somebody pick up the children on their way home to San Marcos village and pass the junction to go home. I personally think that the parent need to play their role as the head of the house. They need to take care of their children all day and not to send them to make money, but isn’t the father need to look for the money for the family. the children by this time should be preparing books and pencils to go to school for wednesday class. at last, the san marcos people need to stay home and take care of them and only father to work for money.