Memorial Service for the Late Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez

A memorial service was held for the late Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez just a week after the tragic murder. Father Daniel Nuñez carried out the memorial service in front of a crowd in an empty lot adjacent to the crime scene on Tuesday, November 09, 2010.

Opening remarks were delivered by Lady Bowen as she expressed her sympathies to the family of the late Maria. Mayor Elsa Paz spoke on behalf of the island of San Pedro and reiterated that everyone feels sorry for the loss of such wonderful young lady.

After the mass ended Mr. Gach Guerrero, San Pedro Station Manager of Maya Island Air, read a letter which was sent by Maria’s brother-in-law, Arturo Gomez. The letter read:

    “Mari-Toni, as she was affectionately called, was a loving twin sister, daughter, wife and mother. She loved her job and when she was offered to work for Maya Island Air Regional she was more than delighted to do so as she had the opportunity to visit the beautiful Island of San Pedro. I am sure Mari-Toni lived the most memorable moments of her life in the island which was cut short by the unfortunate incident. I appreciate your condolences and affection towards our family. We envy you all for having seen the last of her unforgettable smile in one of the most beautiful places in the world; my sincere affection, Arturo Gomez.”

Present at the memorial service were Mayor Elsa Paz, Maya Island Air Personnel, Police Personnel, community activists, teachers, hotel personnel and many local residents.

On behalf of the community of San Pedro, Ambergris Today would like to express its most sincere condolences to the family and friends of the late Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez.

Lady Dixie Bowen with the opening remarks

Mayor Elsa Paz expresses condolences on behalf of island residents

Gach Guerrero of Maya Island Air reads letter from Maria's Family

Memorial attendants pay respect to Maria at scene of the crime

The large shrubs that obstructed the view to the house have been cut down for safety

Murder Suspect Released

The manhunt continues for the murderer of Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez as last night's apprehension of a murder suspect turned out to be a bust. The man who was detained in Caye Caulker and brought to San Pedro late last night for questioning was able to provide to the San Pedro Police Department enough evidence that he is a new visitor to Belize. According to Police, the man was very cooperative and shortly after his detainment he was released and transported back to the island of Caye Caulker. The Police Department continues its intensive search for more evidence for the possible identification of Gomez's murderer.

Police Seek Missing Items of Murder Victim Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez

The San Pedro Police Department has released information about two items that have been reported missing, belonging to the late Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez. These items include a silver Panasonic LUMIX HD Digital Camera and a Nokia N96 Cell Phone (pictured below).

NOKIA N96 Slide Phone

Silver Panasonic LUMIX HD Camera

The San Pedro Police Department is now seeking assistance from the public in the recovery or identification of the missing items or identifying individuals in possession of them. Information given to the Police Department will be kept confidential and used cautiously. Any assistance rendered to the Police Department will be greatly appreciated and an asset to the department to solve this heinous crime. Contact the San Pedro Police Department at 226-2022, 922 or 1-800-922-TIPS.

Official Post Mortem Report 

    Dr. Mario Estradaban’s post mortem examination report on the body of Spanish National Maria Antonia Gomez Plaza indicates that the cause of death is due to strangulation. Two persons are detained and third person is being sought who can help the Police solve this recent murder. Plaza’s partially nude body showed signs of violence and a belt was found around her neck, believed to be the instrument used to strangulate her.

    Family members of Plaza will be transporting her body back home, but the police are still conducting an intense investigation to capture her murderer and bring that person to justice. Plaza was last seen in the company of a stock man on Coconut Drive, less than half a mile from Corona del Mar Hotel where she was staying.

    Sgt. Fitzroy Yearwood, Belize Police Press Officer had this to say to Marion Ali of News 5 in Belize City:

    “Well the person we are looking for is of Caucasian decent. The persons that we have detained, at some point during her stay on the island, they were seen either communicating with her or in actually moving around with her on the island with at least one of the two persons that we have detained. What we’re asking is that if members of the community know this person that we are looking for, if they can come forward and just assist us, even if it’s just for identification purpose—just for us to know who we are actually looking for that would help and go a long way. People who actually saw this woman on the island and made this photo available, they would remember who they saw her with and we are asking them to come forward so as not to prejudice the case for identification purposes.”

Reward Being Offered!

Flowers and candles were placed to respect the memory of the late Maria Plaza Gomez

Pedro's, in conjunction with Ambergris Daily, is offering a reward of $1,000.00Bze to anyone with information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person involved in the murder of Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez. Anyone interested in joining this effort can kindly contact Pedro's or the Ambergris Daily. So far San Pedro Police have two persons detained for questioning of the murder case.

Maya Island Regional personnel missing in San Pedro

Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez

 A female flight attendant of Maya Island Air Regional has gone missing and reports are that Maya Island personnel, along with Tourism Police, have been conducting a search for 37-year-old, Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez, Spanish national that went missing on Sunday, October 31.

    Reports are that she arrived in Belize City at 1pm on Friday, October 29 and told the rest of the flight crew that she would be spending the night on San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. She checked into Corona Del Mar hotel and went out for the evening.

    Reliable sources stated that she was last seen on Saturday morning as she told hotel employees that she was going to confirm her return flight for 2:00 p.m. at Maya Island Air; this happened at 10:30am. Plaza also went on a diving trip and was last seen at a local bar, and while she did confirm her return flight earlier in the morning she never made it on the plane.

    Her belongings, including her passport and money, were left in the hotel room and the Maya Island staff along with San Pedro Tourism Police have launched a search for Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez.

   If anyone has information on the whereabouts of Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez, kindly contact the San Pedro Police Department at 226-2022.

 Last camera footage of Maria leaving her hotel