O.W. woman bludgeoned to death on Mother’s Day
A young Orange Walk woman is dead and the murder appears to be a case of brutal rage committed by someone she knows. This morning I travelled to the scene of the Mother’s Day crime.
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
There is no physical evidence to suggest that thirty-three year old Anna Maria Novelo fought off her attacker but the single mother did scream for help as her killer repeatedly knocked her in the head with a piece of concrete believed to have come from this pile of rubble inside this unfinished concrete structure situated on the Albert Burns Pasture in Orange Walk Town.
Gregorio Novelo, Father of Murder Victim
“I just can’t tell you that, I can’t explain to you that, I can’t explain to you that one because she noh got nothing.”
Gregorio Novelo, who owns Belicolor Photo Service, says all he knows is that his daughter left home around two on Sunday afternoon.
Gregorio Novelo
“I noh know weh she gone do deh mam. Maybe, I noh know, maybe like how she dah friend with everybody, maybe a boy must have call her, you know, let’s go to that place to the place. I can’t say because like how I tell you I can’t put my neck on the block for my children.”
It was children in the area who reportedly heard the young woman’s cries for help but by the time the police were alerted, the killer had already claimed the life of his victim. Lead investigator and Officer in Charge of Orange Walk Crimes Investigation Branch, Detective/Sergeant Julius Cantun says Novelo was bludgeoned to death.
Detective/Sergeant Julius Cantun, O.I.C, C.I.B, Orange Walk
“It is a large burst wound on the right side of the forehead, across the head and another smaller injury similarly on the left side. There were no bruises, no scratches nothing to indicate that she could have put up a fight or she could have defended herself.”
Shortly after four p.m., a man described as tall, slim, clear and of Hispanic appearance was seen leaving the area. According to the police their suspect also matches the description of a man reportedly seen riding along with Novelo on her bicycle earlier that afternoon. According to Cantun, based on information they have received, they not only believe Novelo knew her killer but that she was not taken to the location against her will.
Detective/Sergeant Julius Cantun
“Because all indications is that she had went there voluntarily. She was on a bicycle; we found her bicycle neatly parked inside the structure. They had to cross a fence and people traffic that street and if she was being taken by force somebody would have seen something but we suspect that she went there voluntarily.”
At the crime scene, authorities not only observed blood believed to be from the victim on the structure’s wall but police forensic investigators are also examining these bloody partial finger prints to see if they were made by the killer as he left the crime scene. The suspected murder weapon has also been recovered.
Detective/Sergeant Julius Cantun
“The investigators found at the scene a piece of stone which was covered in blood which we suspect was used to commit this crime.”
“At this point in time we are not sure of what could have happened or what triggered off this crime however we are working strong in this investigation so that we could find out exactly what occurred there.”
“Initial investigation does not reveal that she was sexually assaulted but however we will have the post mortem – that is scheduled for tomorrow – and the forensic pathologist will be able to ascertain that for us.”
“There is no indication that any jewellery or anything was stolen. I believe that theft or robbery was not the motive; something else triggered off this crime.”
According to the family, Novelo, who was a friendly person, was also a devoted mother to her only child. Today the six year old boy and his mother were scheduled to go on a class trip to the Lamania site.
Rosa Maria Lino, Cousin of Murder Victim
“Very friendly, well known here in the neighbourhood, everybody in Orange Walk knew her so I don’t think somebody would like to kill her for no reason. So what happen, only God knows.”
The police say they have an idea of who their main suspect is and believe he may still be in the Orange Walk District. The Novelo family say they only want justice.
Gregorio Novelo
“But right now they do the killing, they find they do it, they send them to the jail to fatten them. They eat better than me and you.”
“You murder, hang again, hang and then see if this thing wah cool down. Noh come with human rights at all. Human rights just spoil the whole country. Human rights just spoil everything. In my days, you noh hear about much killing. You noh hear about killing. Once maybe fifteen years you hear somebody get killed.”
Supt. Robert Mariano, Head, Orange Walk Police Station
“This would be the fourth homicide we have since the beginning of the year. Of course this is the first one in Orange Walk Town. The others have occurred in other rural villages.”
“We will be doing all that we could to ensure that this culprit will be brought to justice. We won’t be resting until this person is arrested and taken before a court in this country.”
Police have detained a watchman who was working in the area at the time, however, he claims he did not hear or see anything. Meanwhile, residents say they have been petitioning for a police substation, but it has not yet been established. Instead, Orange Walk police have been conducting increased patrols to alleviate crime in the neighbourhood. If you have any information that can help police solve the murder of Anna Maria Novelo, call the nearest station or CrimeStoppers at 0-800-922-8477.
