A prime suspect in the murder of Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez murder case is tonight in custody of the San Pedro Police Department. The Caucasian man, of short stature, husky body, long sandy blonde hair was apprehended in Caye Caulker earlier today and was brought to San Pedro around 6:30pm on board the last Caye Caulker Water Taxi shuttle to the island. Police have not identified the man or confirmed that he is the murderer, but he is the prime suspect of the murder.
Friday, November 5, 2010
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.”
Local Building Authority Meeting on Monday
NOTICE
The Ambergris Caye Local Building Authority is having a meeting on Monday, November 8, 2010, to be held at the Lion's Den at 7:00p.m. Draftsmen and Contractors are encouraged to attend as very important matters will be discussed about construction requirements, contractor's licenses and construction application forms.
Archaeological Reserves Entrance Fee Increase
The Institute of Archaeology, National Institute of Culture and History (NICH) hereby informs the general public and its tourism stakeholders that in accordance with Statutory Instrument #40 of 2010, Gazetted 1st May 2010, the NICH Board of Directors has approved the following entrance fee increase to the Archaeological Reserves.
For sites in TABLE 1 below, the following fee increase will
become effective on 1st June 2011.
| TABLE 1 | ||
| Archaeological Reserves | Resident Admission | Non Resident Admission |
| Nim Li Punit | $10.00 | $20.00 |
| Lubaantun | $10.00 | $20.00 |
| Serpon | $10.00 | $20.00 |
| El Pilar | $10.00 | $20.00 |
| Barton Creek | $20.00 | $20.00 |
| Actun Tunichil Muknal | $50.00 | $50.00 |
| Caracol | $15.00 | $30.00 |
| Cerro Maya | $10.00 | $20.00 |
| Santa Rita | Free | Free |
For sites in TABLE 2 below, the following fee increase will
become effective on 1st October 2011.
| TABLE 2 | ||
| Archaeological Reserves | Resident Admission | Non Resident Admission |
| Cahal Pech | $10.00 | $20.00 |
| Xunantunich | $10.00 | $20.00 |
| Altun Ha | $10.00 | $20.00 |
| Lamanai | $10.00 | $20.00 |
| No Hoch Cheen | $20.00 | $20.00 |
The Institute of Archaeology, NICH takes this opportunity to assure its stakeholders that we will continue our efforts to create exciting destinations that will make a positive contribution to the tourism industry in Belize. We would like to reinforce our commitment to ensure equal access to the reserves by all users and to continue developing the appropriate infrastructures that are reasonably necessary for the full enjoyment of our archaeological parks.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
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.
A Weakend TS Tomas Still a Grave Danger to Haiti
From Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog (www.wunderground.com)
As this record-breaking third busiest Atlantic hurricane season in history unfolded, I marveled that earthquake-ravaged Haiti managed to dodge significant rain-making tropical storms throughout the peak months of August, September, and October. Cruel fate will not allow Haiti to escape the entire season unscathed, though, as a late-season November storm already proven to be a killer--Tomas--takes aim at Haiti.
Tomas has struggled mightily over the past few days, and is now a tropical depression. However, even if it does not reach hurricane strength, Tomas is still likely to bring heavy rains capable of causing disastrous flooding in defenseless Haiti. It doesn't take much rain to cause a flooding disaster in Haiti--ordinary seasonal heavy rains have killed 23 people in southern Haiti over the past month, including twelve people in Port-au-Prince this past weekend.
According to the Associated Press, most of last weekend's deaths occurred when surging rivers burst through houses built in ravines. With the soils already saturated from last weekend's rains, the stage is set in Haiti for a significant flooding disaster capable of causing heavy loss of life.
I believe it is 30% likely that Tomas will stay far enough west of the Haiti earthquake zone so that rains will be limited to 1 - 4 inches to the region, causing only modest flooding problems and little or no loss of life. More likely (40% chance) is the possibility of major flooding due to 4 - 8 inches of rains. Finally, I expect a 30% chance that heavier rains of 5 - 20 inches over Haiti will cause catastrophic flooding like experienced in 2008's four hurricanes. Potential flooding disasters are not possible just in the earthquake zone, but also in northern Haiti and the southwestern peninsula of Haiti. So, keep praying for the people of Haiti, they need all the help they can get.
Actor Charlie Sheen's Belize Drinking Spree
 |
| PHOTO (credit: flashcity.com): |
A report coming in from the Huffingtonpost.com and Life & Style is that celebrity TV actor of “Two and a Half Men” Charlie Sheen was spotted in Placencia, Belize where he embarked on a drinking spree just one week after leaving court-mandated rehab. The star has become a media spotlight after exhibiting a crazy lifestyle of alcohol and drug abuse.
A Life & Style's press release reports the following:
An eyewitness reveals to Life & Style that Charlie Sheen had fallen off the wagon much earlier than his recent NYC bust. In fact, the Two and a Half Men star embarked on a booze-filled binge in exotic Belize just one week after leaving court-mandated rehab.
After flying into the tropical village of Placencia by private jet on Wednesday, Oct. 6, Charlie hit local bar, Cozy Corner, early the next day with some friends. The actor spent the afternoon hours guzzling tequila and beer while watching a playoff baseball game on TV.
By Friday evening, Charlie was hosting a rowdy party with two male friends and six women at one of Francis Ford Coppola's lodges. "There were already at least 15 partially empty or empty wine bottles. Charlie's drink of choice was Jack Daniels on the rocks," says the eyewitness, noting that two to three bottles had been emptied before midnight. "Charlie had a rainbow of girls with him. They were there with a purpose to party."
Even as one raucous female guest smashed a full wine bottle over a railing, Charlie encouraged the debauchery. "Everybody started laughing and Charlie yelled to the bartender, 'More wine!'" says the witness. "He was heavily intoxicated."
The local resident tells Life & Style that Charlie partied through the night. "His eyes were as closed as they can be. He's professional at this. This is his lifestyle. He had definitely been drinking the whole trip."
 |
| The Cozy Corner in Placencia |
Mosquito Coast Park Updated Pictures
-2.jpg)
The San Pedro Lions Club has been working arduously ever since a set of playground equipment was donated to the Club. Its erection started a few weeks back at the Mosquito Coast Park, south of San Pedro Town. Here we see that the first slide has been completed and children already enjoying it. Lions Club members and volunteers are taking time off their weekends to continue working on the assembly. It's a great addition to the park and we thank the Lions Club for their hard work and Holy Cross Anglican School for the donation.
-3.jpg)
-4.jpg)
-5.jpg)
-1.jpg)
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Missing Person Found Dead
On Sunday, October 31, San Pedro Police received a report that a female flight attendant of Maya Island Air Regional had gone missing. And shortly after 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 2, police found the lifeless body of 37-year-old, Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez.
Maria Antonia Plaza Gomez arrived in Belize City 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 in at the Corona del Mar Hotel and went out for the evening.
 |
| The body of Maria being removed from the murder site and transported to south end of island for the autopsy |
It has been confirmed that Plaza Gomez was seen on Saturday night at the Holiday Hotel Halloween Party and on Sunday morning, October 31, she told hotel employees that she was going to confirm her return flight for 2:00 p.m. at the airstrip. A surveillance camera at the hotel captured Plaza Gomez leaving the premises at around 7:58 a.m.; she then stopped at the Ramon’s Village gift shop where she made a purchase and around 10:00 a.m. she reconfirmed her flight to Belize City at the Maya Island Air airstrip office.
After leaving Maya Island Air, Plaza Gomez walked back towards her hotel. News Five interviewed Mr. Arnulfo Escobar, a fruit vendor in front of Ramon’s Village, who stated that he saw Plaza Gomez with a tall Caucasian male who had long hair and carried a backpack. After she made a purchase at his fruit stall, Plaza along with her male companion, continued in the direction of her hotel south of town.
That was the last time Plaza Gomez was seen and when she did not make her flight back to the city and didn’t show up to work, Maya Island reported her missing. San Pedro Police along with Maya Island Air personnel commenced a search for Plaza Gomez and on Monday, November 1, the community of San Pedro came together distributing fliers with Plaza’s picture and posting them on lap posts around town and conducting a search around the island.
Three days after her disappearance police intensified their search and on Tuesday, November 2, shortly after 3:00 p.m. police stumbled upon the body of a female in a bushy area of a private lot located on the beachfront area which is off an alley that connects to Coconut Drive. This location is just a block away from the hotel where she was staying.
 |
| Bushes under the house's veranda where the lifeless body of Plaza Gomez was found |
Maya Island personnel were quickly informed about the finding and the area was blocked by police as the area was quickly filled with onlookers. The lifeless body of Plaza Gomez was found in a bushy area under the veranda of the building covered with a floating device. The building is occupied by local businessman Mr. Dennis Sunderman.
It was confirmed to us that the body was found in a preliminary state of decomposition and was partially nude. Plaza Gomez was wearing a white tank-top blouse with dark trousers and her blouse was pulled up to her neck and her bra had been pulled down, exposing her breasts. There were many visible bruises on the body including bite marks.
It was about 6:00 p.m. when Dr. Mario Estradaban, coroner of Belize, arrived to the scene along with a forensic team of investigators. The lifeless body of Plaza was removed from the crime scene at about 8:15 p.m. and was taken to an isolated area south of Ambergris Caye, in the Boca Ciega Area, where Dr. Estradaban conducted an autopsy. The body was later transported to Belize City via the police boat where Dr. Estradaban will continue his investigations.
Plaza Gomez was violently tortured, assaulted and brutally murdered; she was not raped. Dr. Estradaban’s findings confirm that Plaza Gomez was killed at the place where she was found and the gruesome murder occurred on Sunday, October 31 sometime between 12 midday and 2:00 p.m. Police reports and Ambergris Today research confirm that this is the first murder case of the year.
 |
| Police blocked off beach front area to conduct their investigations |
 |
| Beachfront home where the body of Maria was found |
 |
| Police and special constables await the recovery of the body |
 |
| Forensics officer Arian Jones and Special Constable Karim Maroun enter the crime scene |
 |
| Resident of house talks with Police Officer |
Pictures of the Crime Scene the following day
