Family Accused of Kidnapping Appears in Belmopan Court

A family of four accused of holding a 23-year-old woman hostage appeared in court in Belmopan City this morning. During their arraignment, the family pleaded not guilty to multiple charges. Belmopan authorities formally arrested the family yesterday. 

The family includes 45-year-old Luis Alfredo Tiul Sr., a Guatemalan pastor, and 59-year-old Matilda Games, who are both charged with Administering Noxious Matter.

Luis Alfredo Tiul Jr., 24, faces charges of Aggravated Assault and Wounding. His father, Tiul Sr., is also charged with Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault, Wounding, and Sexual Assault. Elizabeth Tiul, 43, a Mexican housewife, is charged with Kidnapping, Wounding, and Aggravated Assault.

The pastor is accused of holding his daughter-in-law captive for eight days in their residence on John Saldivar Boulevard, Belmopan. Authorities revealed that she had attempted to escape her troubled marriage and sought refuge with her family, but returned to her husband’s home. The 23-year old was reportedly assaulted and sexually harassed by the pastor, deprived of food, and left in her own excrement with no access to a shower.