Children missing; business burned; local psychic didn’t predict charge
It’s day eight and the disappearance of two siblings from San Marcos, Toledo remains a mystery. Since Monday police have been scouring the area, but up to news time, there are still no solid leads as to what could have happened to Onelia and Benjamin Rash, two school aged children who went missing on August thirtieth. On Sunday, a group of angry villagers set ablaze a crocodile sanctuary owned by a US couple. This was fuelled by telltale predictions from a local psychic who has now been charged. The focus of the search for the Rash children has shifted to the arson of the sanctuary and the story has caught the attention of the international media. News Five’s Isani Cayetano reports.
Isani Cayetano, Reporting
benjamin rash
The ruins of what was once a million dollar investment developed to protect local crocodile species a few miles northeast of Punta Gorda Town remains under heavy police and military guard. The American Crocodile Education Sanctuary, founded by Vincent and Cherie Rose, was reduced to ashes on Sunday by a gang of angry villagers in search of two missing children. The busload of men armed with rifles and machetes entered the property on the advice of a soothsayer. Despite not finding Benjamin and Oneila Rash they set the place ablaze. The oracle however, has since led many to believe that the Roses absconded from the United States as fugitives of the law. Vincent Rose has flatly denied those allegations.
oneila rash
Vincent Rose, Owner, ACES
“We didn’t move here running away from something. We came here to help and to build a beautiful education facility and tourism facility for Toledo and that’s where we chose to move and build it all.”
But Rose did not get to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Instead he has been tried in the court of public opinion for allegedly abducting the children to feed his crocodiles. Rumors of his hatred for children have been spreading throughout the village of San Marcos like wildfire.
Marcos Choc, Resident, San Marcos Village
“Well I’m a tour guide and I work with these people and I spoke to Vince and Vince is a guy [who] told me that he hates children, he hates kids right. So that is why I’m putting my; I’m saying that he’s the one doing it.”
Furthermore Rose has been found guilty by a jury of his peers for committing that crime simply based on a psychic reading.
vincent rose
Vincent Rose
“It’s the stupidest thing you ever heard of and so is how that [uh], how it came to be. I guess it came from a psychic?”
That woman, forty-two year old Delfina Alvarez, has since been arrested and charged by Punta Gorda Police for the crime of pretending to be a fortune teller. She has pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of one thousand, five hundred dollars. The fine however, does not compare to the damage that has been done to Rose’s lifelong investment.
Vincent Rose
“They misunderstood everything. They went on a wrong tangent and went against the law and as far as I’m concerned all they’ve done is done a terrorist act in your country Belize.”
The callousness with which the villagers destroyed Rose’s property has completely eclipsed the ongoing search effort to locate the missing children. Today makes a week and a day and they have not returned home. Assisting Punta Gorda police every step of the way is Senator Pulcheria Teul.
Pulcheria Teul
Senator Pulcheria Teul, Exec. Dir. Toledo Maya Women’s Council
“We have been working since Thursday morning with the police here in Punta Gorda [Uhm] especially with Mr. Mariano, the superintendent. We have also made visits to the family in San Marcos in trying to give some comfort to the family and some reassurance that we will do everything possible to recover the children.”
Those efforts are yet to prove successful. Punta Gorda police, over the past forty-eight hours have arrested and detained one individual whom they say had photographs of Benjamin and Oneila Rash on the day they went missing. Further investigation however, could not confirm his involvement in their disappearance. He has since been released.
The burning question for most has to be the reason why these children were allowed to venture twelve miles away from home to sell fruits.
Pedro Rash, Father of Missing Children
“Well, I told them already, I told their mother that they don’t have to go again because school would be open Wednesday. I told them start to prepare and pack your books but kids like they usually go from the market and sell noh. But that is just the second time they come off from Hopeville and sell.”
Delfina Alvarez Selgado
Punta Gorda Police are investigating both the disappearance of nine year old Oneila and Benjamin Rash as well as the arson of American Crocodile Education Sanctuary separately and no closer to finding the children or the suspected arsonists. Reporting for News Five, I am Isani Cayetano.
Cherie Rose was vice president of the local Belize Tourism Industry Association chapter but resigned after she and her husband were forced to leave the Toledo District following death threats by angry villagers. The B.T.I.A. today issued a press release expressing its unity with the Roses. As such, the organization has established an account at the Belize Bank to assist in providing financial support for the displaced family. Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so by making a deposit to Belize Bank account number 630-1-1-10130, the “Vince and Cherie Rose Fire Victim” account.
Hal spry: They say a picture is worth a thousand word, have a look at his via facebook. He’s the only one with this name. It explains everything, bless him!
I wanted to keep out of this discussion – have always known that Toledo was for the Mayans, common stereotype that if the Mayans dont want you in the area they will burn your hut. Also common knowledge that crocodiles are seen as evil spirits within the Mayan religion/superstition. Setting up a croc farm/sanctuary/whatever in the heartlands of the Maya while providing no economic stimulus to the area was probably not the best of ideas. Due diligence would of uncovered that. In fact this is Common Sense!
The real story is the missing kids. I doubt whether the true story will emerge concerning their whereabouts. Now even in Mayan heartlands, where traditionally a village raises a child, utmost attention must be provided to children at all times. This is the real sadness of today’s reality.
Burning of the crocodile farm/sanctuary/whatever is secondary and irrelevant in my opinion.The Roses should of done their research first on the area before setting up camp and expecting the Mayans to tolerate. Typical Americans – judge all by their “standards”, call any other behaviour “savage” or “primitive”. Not the American fault, their history in the USA regarding their indigenous people bred this superiority. They should of taken their business to San Pedro in the first place, although I doubt even in San Pedro an unsupervised crocodile holding pen would be approved.
Hal Spray – you can call me a racist if you want,have no problem in what you opinion is. Elgin has his opinion too, and have no problem with his. Leave the petty point winning, this is a forum for ideas and free expressions…..mein, you sound like a typical whining yank that is better off staying in the States.
Lets get back to doing something we can all do that will help, forward our prayers to the family of the missing children and pray for answers so that they can get closure of this terrible event.
Sallams and Eid Mubark for Friday.
hal Spry: I am working for the KKK idiot.
Hal SPRY>> as much as i don’t agree with Elgin Martinez comments. Your comments are as insulting and racist…Both of you are acting like children. Please take your childish remarks somewhere else!!!! As for the maya down south, guys really, i have to agree and say that indeed you guys are truly demeaning our Jewel not your Jewel OUR JEWEL. What hal spry is right in a sense what if genuiene investor were looking to invest down south and create job for some of you, then maybe you won’t need to send you children out in the street to sell. Please think before leap if that is not too much to ask.
Hal SPry : Who the F are you to question my authority? By the way who is this idiot hal spry to decide these people’s faith.Did you witness the arson fool.The Police department is not going to act base on your feelings.Law enforcement act base on evidence.Maybe your ……… should add this to your story on CNN .
hal Spry: House spray what ever your name is better shut up or i am going to get my Mayan people fu bun fire pan you and the Bwai Rose again.No one didn’t even die as a result of this incident.Why is so much attention given to this when we’ve got brothers killing each others in the streets of Belize?Guess what House Spray i am going to make the psychic Selgado tek care a you.
i don’t care about the two Americans, they are not god but some ppl treat them like one. i just care about the children, innocent children that don’t deserve this!
In Fact I think I will do that.
hal Spry: Maybe your time would be spent more wisely googling to find out who burnt you boy Rose home.
Awwww now every ones mad at me. I was initially responding to ridiculous comments and inflammatory remarks, and lies about an old friend of mine. Some of the last comments still reflect the racist thinking that drives Elgin.
Foto: I did . My comments are too extreme ? That is the nature of a good flaming. Somebody needs to call Elgin on his comments. So far he is incapable of having the conversation where he backs up his white hating, Rose hating, American hating, lies. Common Sense: It doesn’t matter what you say…..I will continue to call Elgin or you or ranyone else out if needed. Elgin IS A RACIST, and I will not go easy on a lying racist.
Elgin Martinez says:
September 9, 2010 at 5:02 pm
hal Spry: House spray what ever your name is better shut up or i am going to get my Mayan people fu bun fire pan you and the Bwai Rose again.No one didn’t even die as a result of this incident.Why is so much attention given to this when we’ve got brothers killing each others in the streets of Belize?Guess what House Spray i am going to make the psychic Selgado tek care a you.
Elgin You just sound weak.
Lany: Insulting yes. Racist no.
Well a new day. Is justice being served yet?
Another day and the fight for the truth goes on. I have been seeing slander and malice in several blogs. Thanks to all who resist and press for justice. I and many others will not quit calling out the liars and slanderers. I will be around for the long haul.
hal spry instead of taking your story to CNN about an isolated incident that occured in the Toledo District.,Why don’t you and your boy Rose make a documentary about all the American PEDOFILES that have been captured in Belize.Why havn’t you and your boyfriend Rose add this to your story on CNN.
This goes out to U.S TOURIST and everyone who has made negative comments of Belize:
First of all, there is no country that is crime free. And if I ought to mention the U.S…please… we won’t finish today! So, U.S Tourist, don’t go about saying that you’re not coming to Belize because of its crimes. It is unfortunate that our country, after being a peaceful country once, has a high crime index. But, in that effect, how safe is the U.S. Is it crime free?? Let’s be real!
Secondly, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to invest in Belize, like the Roses did. Belize should start to embrace foreign investment because, even when we belizeans don’t openly accept that it would help our country, deep inside we KNOW it will. Nevertheless, when investing in any country, the first thing to to is learn their ways; their culture. It’s dumb to try to do otherwise. In the Rose’s case, they obviously didn’t do their homework. Now, I’m not saying that they deserve what happened to them. I appreciate life and understand that if you’re not the creator, then you have no right to destroy it. However, I strongly believe that if they had studied these people’s idiosyncrasy, their investment plans would’ve been different and this incident (the burn down) could’ve been prevented.
Anyhow, the REAL concern is the missing children. Let’s try to focus on that and pray for their well-being and strenght for their family.
FYI: I also strongly agree that the villagers shouldn’t have taken justice in their own hands. But again, we are living in a sinful world. God be with them! And let’s hope that justice is made for all parties affected.
You can’t win you weak little man. So now you say he’s my boyfriend? Listen jerk I know a few of us have seen your picture on FB. Looks to me like your a little feminine yourself.
You will employ every tactic you can think of to smear the Roses… and now me for defending them.
But let me remind you…. it was you who tried to tell some lies, and got caught. It is you who hasn’t the intelligence to answer some simple questions. If you would have just shut your stupid racist mouth, you wouldn’t be getting spanked by me now. Just like to rant and rave huh? What a little girl.
(no offense to little girls intended I just know how to push buttons, and I can see him now with his eyes rolled back in his head, shrieking )
hal spry: You trying to track me .When you can’t even track my Mayan boys that burnt your boyfriend’s house down.What about you srart catching some crocodile for your boy Rose …………..You’re on Belizean soil son and until then you’re going to obey our laws or get the … out.By the way nothing on you boy’s house looks like it’s worth a million dollars ,maybe a million pesos.That …. doesn’t even looks like a house that …. looks more like a water supply .
hal spry let me remind you one again that i am not here to live up to your expectation.Furthermore you’re not going to make me change my position on this issue.As a result stop wasting your time.In addition i don’t need to smear the Roses tha Mayan Community already done that for me.Where were you to spank the Maya indian that tourched you boyfriend’s home?
Elgin.. not hard to do. You leave your racist comments in almost every blog you go to. So now its your boys that burned a house. Was that a crime ? Did some one other than a Mayan break the law? Do those villiagers have to obey the law? Did they break the law? What should the punishment be for people that burn down another persons house? So you say they are ” my Mayan boys” Do you know who burned the house? Were you there?
hal spry: So you know how to push buttons? Guess what i know how to turn switches on and i am about to turn you on right now idiot.You boy Rose refering to the Mayan community as savages would be no different than a black person who might have been a victim of the bombing mastermind by Timothy Mcvaugh refering to Whites as savages.
Elgin you going to answer questions or rant some more?
Elgin…..that was a weak move. And really, that outfit is girly.
Elgin really you want to talk like you first off have a clue about what happened, if you are really part of everything man up and say so. otherwise yeah its REALLY easy to sit behind your computer and talk crap about people you don’t know. the locals obviously didn’t have a problem with the Rose’s seeing as they have been there for 6 years. also you want to sit there on your fat lazy butt talking crap, but think about how much your community has lost due to not only the pure stupidity of people like you that would believe some crackpot throwing bones and reading chicken guts or what ever it was she did to determine that a HARD WORKING human was behind all this. you want to sit there and talk about the KKK being evil well people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. because you have done the EXACT SAME THINK AS THEM. the only difference is here in AMERICA we bring the criminals to Justice. we are not cowards, we take the fight where it needs to be. you showed not only your stupidity but your intolerance and most importantly your RACIST SIDE. starting off with the boyfriend comment and then with your don’t stay where your not welcomed. in all reality i would love nothing more than to fly down there and kick you retarded butt, (i would suggest you come here, but well we all know you are probably scared of that big thing that makes noise and flies in the sky) but i gave a feeling that you guys are going to take care of yourselves. see we Americans have our own kind of physic power ITS CALLED COMMON SENSE.
A new day same old fight eh?
Would any one care to tell me what the punishment should be for burning down someones house and business?
we do not know what to say about this cases the media is use to broadcast news. so the people will say any to make believe. I think the law enforcement need trace back there investigation back to the parents. They are the only one that knows about these kids they probably done something to these kids and making up story. They probably have buried there kids some where in there back yard. If do not have good detective that can do there job right then the case will never get solve.
First I want to state clearly that whoever set these people’s place on fire needs to be arrested and charged. There’s no place for vigilante justice in Belize.
That being said, I was looking for information about Vincent and Cherie Rose all over the internet. All I found out was that he managed a resort I believe and had a construction company, and she worked with some program at a school in Colorado. Vincent Rose has been fooling the Belizean people for a long time with his Biologist crap. He has never been a biologist as far as I am concerned until he reached Belize.
I do not blame them for doing what they have to do… I however, think that a governemnt department, whether it be forestry or whomever were working with these people should have done their homework and see if these people are qualified to do what they were doing.
In the end, (in my opinion) it is all about money. A lot of the friends of these people are saying that they did a lot for Belize and that community in the South and Belize should be ashamed of themselves. I think it should be the other way around. Belize did a lot for the Roses, where else in the world would they be able to do what they are doing with little to no oversight? Do you think they would be here if it were not for our passive people and government that let just about anything happen without questioning it? Our people in Belize for the most part welcome people with big bright smiles to our country, and for Vince Rose to go on television and label people as savages is very unfortunate. If that is the way he feels then he should reconsider the choice he made to stay in Belize and try to find a place where there are no savages, and he will get the amount of freedom to do whatever the heck he wants, like he has in Belize.
I will say it again… they should have never lost their house and all their possessions and everything they built in this way. But do not for one minute think that they would have anything if it was not for the country of Belize and its wonderful people.
P.S. I am still hoping that someone out there will prove me wrong and show me how it is that the Roses were qualified to start a crocodile sanctuary. It shouldn’t be this hard to find work done by Biologists, there must be papers or a journal or something with work they have done prior to moving to Belize.
Elgin,
I took the story to CNN. As soon as I heard I was on the internet and on the phone to CNN and was speaking with them as early as Monday morning. DO NOT assume that the Roses were behind this. There are no winners in this scenario. Many here in the US (whites as you call them) are praying for the safe return of those 2 children. Because you can not see past the color of peoples skin leaves you at a disadvantage. Indeed,t here are folks from ALL OVER THE WORLD who now see the mis-justice to the Roses and the children. Why not close your mouth and your laptop and help out in the search, I will be there to do so next week…
mine your …..ing bussiness dude
stop beening racist you all every body should put thier nose in there on fish pot if you don’t want buy anything from nobody just say no but some like to be they have it all we all need to pray who ever has the fault let god do the answer we are all money lover i guest
I think it’s disgusting that some people on here are saying they don’t care about what happened to the Roses and that they’re only interested in the missing children. I wonder how these (racist/nationalist) individuals would feel if their own homes and businesses were burned to the ground by a crowd of misguided, hostile villagers running amok and showing utter indifference to the rule of law?
Who should be held accountable for this crime? The whole mob? The ones who lit the fire, and the ones who killed two crocodiles?
And what of the weapons? The police confiscated GUNS and MACHETE’S from the busload of villagers. And now they want them back….claiming they need them to work. Are they to be trusted? In the US if you use a weapon in the commission of a crime, you never get it back.
I s it reasonable to assume they were going to shoot or hack someone?
Amazing. Because a psychic told you something, you believe it to the point of destroying someone’s life? Now you complain that your idiocy is getting more attention that the children? It’s your own fault. The psychic is going to hell. Those who burned the sanctuary also will go to hell. You who give this any creedence, you have no right to complain about the attention your stupidity is getting, Now you personally are responsible for taking resources away from finding these children. LEARN SOMETHING from this and cut the self pity. You brought this on yourselves.
Should the so called psychic be held responsible as well?
I am shock! I don’t even understand……The mob should have been used to search the PG area. That was their priority really. Vital time would have been lost carrying out criminal activities. I can’t even understand. Why? Based on a bloody soothsayer? Come on, this is beyond a joke. I don’t even have the energy for this.
For whatever reason some apologist gives, it does not change the fact that a crime was committed. I ask this: What should the penalty be for burning down the house of your neighbor, and killing Crocs?
In a blog I was responding to, I was threatened with being burned as well, for defending my old friend Vince Rose.
I have turned that information over to the PG Police.
Lastly ….what is the status of the canine search?
BZE Bway: Seen your post before….you are the only one harping about qualifications. You posted as anonymous on another blog with the same words. You have “tells” . So you can’t find info on the Roses? Cherie is a biologist. With a degree. Does that work for you? Vince didn’t use the title biologist, He was known as a behaviorist. Do you know the difference?
Have you talked to the department of Forestry, and asked how they determined that the Roses were up to the job? No I guess not, because the first thing they would ask you is your name. And you can’t have that kind of attention eh?
BZE Bway, thanks for checking, I didn’t waste my time because I am aware of our history & know how gullible we can be.
To answer another question; a Turkish national burnt down almost an entire block of Albert Street years ago for insurance money, he went to jail. I believe he served 15-25 years.
After looking at the insanity, who will come forward to provide information on the disappearance of these children or this arson without fear of retaliation?
Belizeans do not hate white folks. We hate rude, condescending folks who dare to call us names to our faces & clean it up with “Not the ones like you”. Burning down buildings have been a tactic used by angry mobs, terrorists, governments & individuals seeking financial or personal gain for almost as long as we have been able to control fire. The KKK bombed the church in Alabama, killed 4 or 5 children, “somebody” leveled the “Black Wall Street” in Oklahoma, a mob destroyed Rosewood, Florida, the Police burnt down an entire block of a black neighborhood in Philadelphia to serve a couple warrants. A group of citizens in Missouri killed a man described as a bully in the middle of the street at high noon & of the almost 100 people present, no one saw a thing because all of them were under the pool table when the shooting occurred. I won’t even comment on the Apes being our ancestors & other hate filled stuff making the rounds across the internet. Ignorance afflicts all groups equally.
Where are the children?
Elgin – I don’t get your point of view!!!! Can you explain to me why you think the americans were involved in the kids missing??????
Elgin – and why kill the baby croc? He didn’t kidnap OR eat any kids.
But let’s be fair, where is the list of all the crimes and murders committed by blacks, and Latinos?
If you cannot find it to list here, it is because the blacks has since then turned on their own race, just like what is happening in Belize today.
The kids are still missing, and we certainly don’t have to gut the crocs out of ignorance in order to prove you wrong, safe the animals.
Which Belizean there are dedicating his or life to save or protect the wild animals, no one, just like no one is there to protect the kids of Belize.
With our ignorance put aside we can learn a lot from them, why is ROSE your suspect?
Show me the evidence.
Zoomom: How can you get my point when what you’re talking about is irrelevant to what i was talking about.No where in my previous statement did i said that the Rose Family were involved with thesese missing kids.My disagreement was with Mr Rose for refering to the Mayan people as savages.you can’t demonize an entire race for the actions of a few knuckle heads.I am going to say it again would it have been fair to demonize the entire white race for Timothy Mcvae’s action?
After refering to the Mayan people as savages,it’s so ironic how the Rose family are still talking about rebuilding in Belize.Why would you guys want to live among savages?
hal spry you are going to far now my friend no 1 why does someone spend 1million dollars to have people come see crocks we do not need this in belize we have been seeing them for thousands of years without the help from the roses no2 we do not have the amount of tourist needed to support a million dollar crock farm are they selling the hide and meat to cover expenses plus i know for a fact they are not biologist thats for sure and another thing why does he tell people he hates kids dislike maybe but hate there is something wrong with this guy but dont worry ill find out for sure exactly who these people are no business man in this world will spend 1million dollars on a business without getting a good return so i ask again are they selling the skins and meat.
Elgin_ re-read Vince’s original statement AGAIN. NOWHERE did he use the word “Mayan”. Not once. The Press are the ones that put the word mayan in their articles,but if you READ Vince’s actual quotes he doesn’t say anything about any race of people. Just CRIMINALS.
Elgin – why do you keep saying “your Mayan boys” burned the house down? Go back and read your own posts!!!
Zoomom: They are my Mayan boys we are all Belizeans and in ref to who burnt the house down you need to ask hal spry he is the one that witnessed the arson
all a uno stop behave like picni, di argue stupidness, no wonder dem people from outside call we savages, mein uno behave now.
Elgin – Don’t you understand that you YOURSELF are the one pointing your finger that the MAYANS did it??????? They’re gonna looove you when the trial comes up!
bwahahaha you fool. It makes no sense to reason with Elgin. He is not capable. Watch this Hey Elgin……..can you not see that Vince Rose said it was the criminals that were savages? Now Elgin goes of on some other comment. He will never answer question. Just rants like some old woman.
Rod you are such an AFOC. Oh you know for a fact they are not biologists. AFOC. You say they are selling hides and meat. There is no evidence what so ever to suggest they are selling skins or meat. You simply don’t have the intelligence to contend here man, ….FullOfCrap in case you don’t know.
If the children are found alive, then the true story will be told. If the children are not found alive or never found then the authorities will conduct a investigation. Regarding the Rose’s and their loss, they might have done a lot for the Myans, however they are not or will ever be Myan, blood is thicker than water.