House Burned by Mentally Ill Family Member Still Under Investigation  

Late last month, a house on Banak Street was destroyed by a fire, leaving one woman without any possessions to her name. The owner of the house, Shana Tillet, suspects that the fire may have been started by her mentally ill nephew, however, the source of the fire remains under investigation. We asked Gladstone Bucknor, Belize District Station Officer, for an update on the incident. Here’s more on that.

 

Reporter

“For the Banak Street fire and with the person who was arrested, did you guys assert a cause? Like, how did he start the fire?”

 

Gladstone Bucknor, Belize District Station Officer, National Fire Service

“We didn’t get to speak to the person at Banak Street. We were still hoping to see that we could actually interview him.”

 

Reporter

“Is he still in police detention?”

 

Gladstone Bucknor

“I’m not sure about that one as yet.”

 

Reporter

“But you received reports that he was mentally challenged?”

 

Gladstone Bucknor

Yes. He was mentally challenged. Yes.”

 

Shana Tillett, Homeowner

“ I was at work and I came home because they call and said fire. The house burn down. So when I reached the whole ah this burn down, the whole ah that di look fi go and round deh. But my nephew was upstairs. He not supposed to be up there. He kind of crazy. He stay up here. But I noh know when ih mi di do ova deh and da that up there it start from. Look like ih smoke ih cigarette and ih throw it and ih burn the place. And my daughter lived downstairs, di sleep and neem know the whole top the burn down and she deh downstairs.”