Suspects charged for Sunday’s double homicide
Five days ago, Belize City was rocked by the news of four violent deaths in less than twelve hours. In one of those cases, two police officers actually witnessed the execution style killing of a man and woman. The victims were laid to rest today and tonight family members of the deceased are comforted by the fact that the accused suspects have been arrested. News Five’s Jacqueline Godwin reports.
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
Today the three suspects: Jamie Chavarria, Edwin Flowers, and Danny Anderson were formally accused as the men who shot thirty-two year old Dorian Michael and twenty-four year old Keiva Leslie in the back of their heads off a feeder road just north of the Haulover Bridge. Police investigations so far indicate that Michael and Leslie were executed because they were able to identify their kidnappers.
According to lead investigator on the case, Sergeant Clement Cacho, the two victims were inside Michael’s van in a secluded area in Belize City when the vehicle was carjacked and the occupants kidnapped. Cacho says the accused may have targeted the vehicle to use as the getaway car in the hold up and robbery of the Esso gas station on Freetown Road.
Jacqueline Godwin
“I know at the time of the press conference the police had little to go on in terms of if there was a kidnapping, where that may have occurred, and what exactly transpired. At this point do we know where the two victims were picked up?”
Sgt. Clement Cacho, Lead Investigator, Double Homicide
“Yes, the two victims were picked up from the Hangar area, however I can’t go into much details as our investigation is still ongoing.”
Jacqueline Godwin
“Did the victims know their kidnappers?”
Sgt. Clement Cacho
“I am under the impression that Dorian Michael knew one of the culprits.”
Jacqueline Godwin
“Do you believe that the van may have been followed for a while before it was actually carjacked?”
Sgt. Clement Cacho
“I do believe they were followed at some point in time.”
The robbery occurred at the Esso gas station shortly before eleven on Sunday night and netted the perpetrators a tank of gas and three hundred and fifty dollars.
Sgt. Clement Cacho
“After the robbery the culprits they went to the Haulover Bridge area, along with the deceased, whereby they inflicted the fatal injuries to both Dorian Michael and Keiva Leslie.”
Cacho says because ballistic tests are not complete, he cannot identify the triggerman or say if more than one weapon was used in the killing.
Jacqueline Godwin
“What led to the arrest of these three individuals?”
Sgt. Clement Cacho
“Intense investigation on the part of the officers at C.I.B., accompanied by C.I.U. and Special Branch, who worked together jointly in order to crack this case.”
Jacqueline Godwin
“What can you tell us about Edwin Flowers, Danny Anderson, and Jamie Chavarria? Are these individuals known to the police?”
Sgt. Clement Cacho
“Yes, they are known to the police; all three very well known. As you know, Edwin Flowers has been involved in several arrests prior. However, convictions have not been forthcoming.”
Today Dorian Michael was laid to rest following services at Wesley Church, while Keiva Leslie was buried after a mass at Zoe Ministries. Sharn Lemoth says she is happy that the suspected killers have been found.
Sharn Lemoth, Mother of Keiva Leslie
“Oh they found them. Well I am so happy because I want to get the sense from them why did they do that to my daughter.”
While police have been unable to locate the murder weapon, they continue to search for the gun at various locations. Shortly after Edwin Flowers, Jamie Chavarria, and Danny Anderson were taken to Magistrate Court, a team of officers visited apartment number three at the Long Barracks on Oleander Street. Tenant Jennifer Wagner says the cops had to break into her home because she was not there and they also destroyed and damaged many of her household items.
Jennifer Wagner
“I found the house in this state and I asked them what they were searching for and they said they were searching for gun because of two murders that happen. I have nothing to do with murders.”
“Then the young lady that they bring up yah, they wah lock the door—she noh live up yah but they wah bring the young lady up yah—lock the door with she inside and they lady say that two of the police pass and touch ah pan her vagina. You understand me? That dah weh the young lady tell we. I noh think that fair, why would they lock somebody up in this house weh noh live up yah and I noh deh home? Weh happen, the law noh have no justice now? We can’t get justice outta this? This dah all I di ask for, justice. I noh have nothing to do with this.”
“First of all, they bruk open all my walls, bruk open the ceiling, turn over and bruk all my bureau, tek the whole bed. Bed dah something that you have to screw up, all ah dem bruk up. All my entire kids bed bruk up. I cannot deal with this no more.”
“They di try help, but still they di get too chancey. You know, they need to stop, they need to stop this. That dah why they wah never get help outta yah. That’s why man di drop dead and nothing noh di happen. Me no inna dem world yah.”
Jacqueline Godwin
“Did they tell you why they believe the gun may be hidden here?”
Jennifer Wagner
“No, they noh tell me no reason why. They noh tell me no reason why that no gun would deh hid yah; no reason. Any time they come to me they come talk to me, oh if I know this or I know that; I no know what di happen.”
Wagner believes Anderson and Flowers are innocent, claiming that one of accused was in police custody at the time of the killing.
Jacqueline Godwin
“Why do you say that both Edwin Flowers and Danny Anderson are innocent?”
Jennifer Wagner
“Well the reason for Edwin, I won’t really say the reason why right, but they have people that was with him at the time, a young lady. But Danny what happen police took in Danny Sunday evening out from the marathon that they had and they took him to the station because he was drunk and they left him out Monday morning at six o’clock. Six o’clock the Monday morning and that’s when that murder happened. That’s the only thing I could say about them.”
Jacqueline Godwin
“But definitely you are saying that Edwin Flowers and Danny Anderson are not involved in this double homicide.”
Jennifer Wagner
“No, they weren’t involved.”
Jacqueline Godwin
“Why do you believe Edwin Flowers is innocent and was not involved in this double homicide?”
Voice of Flowers’ Alibi
“Because he mi upstairs di sleep when this happen.”
Jacqueline Godwin
“How you know he mi upstairs di sleep?”
Voice of Flowers’ Alibi
“Because I mi deh with ah, I mi deh with he at the time when they come yah for ah, he mi deh yah. The police they come pick up ah from round yah. He mi the sleep with me that night.”
However, police strongly believe they have the evidence to convict all three men. The accused have been remanded to Hattieville Prison until April eleventh. Reporting for News Five, I am Jacqueline Godwin.
