Demonstration for justice for murdered 2 year old
In early September we told you about the story of the toddler who was killed in the Japan area of Ladyville. Days before her second birthday, Kaylee Burgess’ went missing during a domestic dispute between her parents. A search was carried out and the child’s body was found in a bucket of water in the yard. But an autopsy would later disprove reports of drowning and showed that Kaylee had in fact been murdered. The post mortem results caused fingers to point close to home, but no one has been arrested and charged. Over the weekend, the child’s mother, Deidra Pratt, organized a small protest because they want someone to be held accountable for the child’s death. News Five’s Andrea Polanco has the story.
[Demonstrators chanting…]
Andrea Polanco, Reporting
The murder of baby Kaelee Burgess galvanized the Ladyville Community in a small, peaceful demonstration. On Saturday, around three in the afternoon, citizens from the Ladyville Community, along with family and friends gathered to hold a small vigil in honor the murdered baby. Donned in T-shirts with the image of the Baby Kaelee and posters, the crowed called for justice.
Michael Hutchison
Michael Hutchison
“What happened today, this demonstration that happened today we must not forget about it. We must keep it in our hearts and our minds. We must set our eyes on God. We must start talking to our neighbors. We must start talking to young people in the streets. We must start to speak about what we desire to see happen in our community.”
The little girl was reported missing and on Wednesday September sixth, the infant was said to have been discovered in a bucket of water, where it was initially reported that she had drowned. However, a post-mortem would later show that Kaelee Burgess was suffocated to death. A number of the toddler’s relatives were questioned, detained and later released. And over three weeks later, no one has been charged. But the murder of the child touched the community.
Kaelee Burgess
Citizen
“What do we want, Justice for Baby Kaelee. When do we want it? Now. Now, why? Because our children are important to us. We want every villain in this village to disappear in the name of Jesus. We want justice for Baby Kaylee, today Lord, we want it today”
Caroline Quilter, Grandmother
“I just want to thank everybody that come out and support us, and not just for ourselves, but as a community. We need to make a stand because if we nuh mek wah stand for something, we will settle for anything. Yuh know, suh, I just want to say that God sees and knows everything. For people weh I meet, I tell deh, yes, we want justice here and in my heart, I know that we will get justice This is God’s little angel.”
SDA Representative
“That morning when I heard Baby Kaylee was dead or died or they kill ah, or they kill her or I don’t know what. I know as how everyone said, I cried. Okay, I cried.”
Caroline Quilter
Caroline Quilter, Kaelee’s grandmother shared with the crowd of supporters how she got the tragic news of her granddaughter’s death.
Caroline Quilter
“Going back to that night, when I was at the police station I didn’t get the news there. I left from there and when going back home, I got a phone call because we didn’t even know little Caylee was actually missing until when we were at the station. We then heard Caylee was missing and I told the Sergeant I had to go because I lived way up in Ladyville. I got a phone call that said they just found Caylee and she drowned. I just can’t tell you how my heartfelt at that time.”
And down on her knees, Bainton sent a message for Kaylee’s killer.
Caroline Quilter
“I want them to hear today that I want justice, justice for Caylee. We will not rest if we don’t get justice for our little angel.”
Reporting for News Five, I’m Andrea Polanco.
There’s a baby murderer somewhere here, so I support these people — don’t let the case die just because the victim was small and helpless.
Whoever murdered Kaylee must pay with his or her life.
Storm, this is such a tragic situation. A horrid family secret and an innocent life lost. If it were and accident say so. Someone knew that child was dead before the mother went to the fatenr’s house to look for the child.
There are so many loop holes here, Storm. Where was the mother before she found the child missing and went to the father’s house looking for the child. How could you search the yard earlier looking for the child and not see it in a bucket right there in the backyard. Then mysterously the child is found in the bucket when the grandmother searched. I believe the child died earlier, the body was hidden under a bed or something and when the time was right and no one would see, the body was placed in the bucket. Fishy, fishy, fishy, this is a big family coverup. Last year there was another child that drowned in a bucket of water, this case used the scenario to cover up this crime.
This is another case where these people thinks the coroner is stupid and incompetent and take their word of a drowing, not realizing that in a drowning there will be water in the lungs. This poor child did not have a chance, mother and father living in ongoing domestic violence, poor living conditions, with babies as victims of their immaturity and poverty.
Al, you’re right — so many questions, no answers set out publicly yet. The only thing we “know” is that it was murder — a baby doesn’t strangle itself then hide itself in a bucket. The case calls for a real top-notch police investigator to thoroughly interview everyone, and put pressure where possible. I believe everyone in that family knows who the murderer is, and nobody tries to do right. A den of vipers.
John Saldivar, here is a case you should get your teeth into, and don’t let up until justice prevails. I’m going to watch how you do, and I invite the rest of Belize to watch, too.
The mother knows very good what happen that day she is just playing the fool. Charge the parents and the aunt. Maybe the grandmother also for covering them. I bet they are saying they cant put all of us in jail. Karma will get each one of you that are guilty. I know you cant sleep at night. You cant escape Gods justice. R.I.P. Caylee.
Our country really need to address all these sensless crimes… what did this 2year do to deserve this? I hope they weren’t trying to spite the dad by killing Caylee… i hope whoever did this cant sleep… i hope their conscience eat them up….
U may feel like u’ve gotten away… but U’ll get exactly what u deserve….Trust