Vigil for slain teen Jasmine Lowe

A taxi driver who was detained in connection with last week’s murder of thirteen year old Jasmine Lowe has been released from police custody. The last time Jasmine was seen alive was when she took a cab heading to her mother’s house on Monday. The western community continues to reel over the killing of Jasmine, the cub scout from Santa Elena, whose body was found last Wednesday. In the aftermath of her murder, there has been shock and grief. On Friday and Saturday nights, candlelight vigils and a mass were held to ease the pain of her horrific death. News Five’s Delahnie Bain reports.

Delahnie Bain, Reporting

A sea of candlelight flooded central San Ignacio on Saturday night as hundreds turned out for a prayer vigil at Columbus Park in memory of thirteen year old Jasmine Lowe. She was an intelligent and high spirited young girl, who was robbed of her life last week. Her grieving father, Christopher Lowe, has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the community.

Christopher Lowe

Christopher Lowe, Father of Jasmine Lowe

“It is phenomenal, I just can’t believe that this has produced so much sympathy and hopefully this is going to create some new laws and regulations and it’s just been phenomenal, the support we’ve received from everybody. I mean even internationally, people who don’t even know us are sympathizing and then of course we did know a lot of people. I can’t even believe it.”

While she also mourns the death of her daughter, Jasmine’s mother, Marisol, is bent on finding the culprit and having him punished to the full extent of the law.

Marisol Lowe

Marisol Lowe, Mother of Jasmine Lowe

“All I know I’ve been around asking people how we can get this person and just make sure that it will happen because she didn’t deserve to die, especially in that kind of way.  I got a lot of support from friends, families and people that I don’t even know; people have been helping. But one thing is sure I just wish this person, if we find him mek we just hang him one time you know, get rid of him because this is not easy.”

Christopher Lowe

“I just appear to be coping with it, it’s extremely difficult, extremely; more so than you can even imagine. But my daughter and I used to meditate everyday and that helps calm me. And to have a great love of God and in some ways, I really miss her but she’s in a better place. We’re the ones that are still suffering and punishing by still being here. I was telling the scouts how she’s now in our hearts and she’s our guardian angel watching over us.”

The murder has hit the entire community hard, including the Scouts, which the teen was a part of. Her friend and fellow Scout, Adian Flowers, remembers Jasmine as a jovial person who made everyone around her happy.

Adian Flowers

Adian Flowers, Friend of Jasmine Lowe

“I’ve been trying my very best to be strong for my scouts and my mom, the scout the leader, her other scout mom. But we’ve been taking it very hard because she was a true sister to us and I don’t know, it’s just been so hard. I try hard to keep it in but sometimes I just find myself breaking down.  Jas wow, there’s so many words to describe Jas. She was energetic, she was funny, she was cheerful, she was nice. Jas was someone that you just everybody could have around because she could have a conversation with anybody and you could just enjoy it. She’s just someone you could just look at and you’d be so happy, she would just make you smile. She was a true friend.”

Among the attendants at the vigil were many residents who did not know Jasmine, but feel her family’s pain because the tragedy struck close to home.

Guadalupe Moreira

Guadalupe Moreira, Cayo Resident

“I don’t know her, but as we live in this town here, I think—well I noh think I know that it’s a worthy cause that we come out to support because the same way how they do her, we could never know one of these days I could lose someone of my family. I have grandchildren, I have daughters so I think all of us have a right to come and support this.”

The vigil was also meant to send a strong message that there needs to be an end to the violence, especially against innocent children.

Christopher Lowe

“To put a stop to all these foolishness; it’s time that our young people are safe to get in a taxi a block from their home in the middle of town. I mean this is just out of hand, we need to open our eyes and take care of one another like they did in the old days. My friend here is from Hopkins and they don’t have problems down there because they’ve been watching each other for years.”

Guadalupe Moreira

“The message we are sending is that we won’t tolerate this anymore because they have to do something about this because our children are the future for tomorrow.”

Sherry Nyberg

Sherry Nyberg, Family Friend

“Jasmine’s voice was taken and she did not have a choice so I believe it’s up to those of us who are here, who love her to be her voice now and make sure that the person or persons who did this are caught, convicted so no other parent, family member or friend should ever go through this and that would be the greatest thing that comes out of it. I know that would make Jasmine very happy.”

A slideshow of pictures of Jasmine was also on display to give the San Ignacio/Santa Elena residents a glimpse into the happy and peaceful childhood that was tragically lost to violence. Delahnie Bain for News Five.