3 female minors missing from Marla’s House of Hope

Howell Gillette

There is a disturbing report tonight that three female minors are missing from Marla’s House of Hope in Belmopan. When we contacted the Home today, a spokesperson confirmed that three under-aged girls went missing ten days ago even though our report suggests that at least six children have gone missing in the past month. The most recent trio to leave the Home did so at the beginning of May. The three others went missing over the Easter weekend and included a sixteen year old and her infant baby, who was born while she lived at Marla’s.  The spokesperson, however, confirmed that reports have been submitted to the Ministry of Human Development as well as to the police. Officer Commanding the Belmopan Police Formation, Superintendent Howell Gillette confirmed this afternoon that they are closing in on the minors, who are believed to be within the Belmopan area.

Via Phone: Supt. Howell Gillette, O.C., Belmopan Police Sub-formation

“Miss Elvira Welch, a Belizean caregiver at the same institution located at Mountain View Boulevard, Belmopan City reported that on the third of May 2014, around five-fifteen p.m., while she was making checks, she observed that three female minors namely: Selena Cal, fifteen years of a Mayan descent, Francesca August, fourteen years of a Hispanic descent and Britney Gentle, fourteen years of a Creole descent, were missing from the institution. So far, we have sent all formation messages and photographs as well as we have shared the photographs with the media. Police believe that the children are in the company of one of the parents of the missing children. The police investigation continues and we believe that we are nearing a conclusion of this case.”

Duane Moody

“You are saying that it is possible that they are with one of the parents of these minors. Now is this person at any risk of being charged for harbouring these young women?”

Via Phone: Supt. Howell Gillette

“Well the investigation will dictate that. When we conclude the investigation, we will determine we will charge her or not.”

The Home falls under the umbrella of the Ministry of Human Development; it is to provide a safe environment to minors who do not have the benefit of strong family structures.