A mother and her daughter were shot to death this morning in Corozal Town and the suspected killer, Deysha Hill’s ex-boyfriend, is on the run from police. The incident happened this morning, shortly before eleven o’clock when Edwin Marin reportedly stopped by Hill’s house and wanted to take custody of his daughter. In the process, there was an exchange of words between both parents during which Hill allegedly threatened Hill and her mother, Natasha Clarke. Marin left the residence and is said to have returned as a passenger on a motorcycle a short while later. He entered the home and reportedly opened fire on the mother and daughter, fatally wounding both women. It is a heartbreaking story that has left the community shaken and a manhunt is underway for Edwin Marin. Of note is that Marin is no stranger to the law and has a history as a violent offender. We begin our newscast this evening with an interview that was conducted with Shian White, the sibling of Natasha Clarke.
Shian White
Shian White, Relative of Deceased
“This morning at approximately 10:47 a.m., my sister, Natasha Vanessa Clarke, and my niece, Deysha Monique Hill, were brutally murdered in their home right here in Corozal Town. This is a situation that I wouldn’t want anybody to ever go through. I mean it’s still fresh. It turns out that my niece’s ex-boyfriend who had already threatened to kill here and has a history of domestic violence came earlier in the morning and wanted to take their daughter, their two-year-old daughter. My niece refused to let him take the child and then he said that he would come back and kill them. And at about 10:47, he came back on a motorcycle, as a passenger on a motorcycle. I am not a hundred percent sure, but they claim that the person who was driving the motorcycle is a Corozal run-man and at which point he entered the home and proceeded to shoot my sister and niece, killing both of them. So at this point in time, what we want is to have the authorities do their best effort to apprehend the suspect. His name is Edwin Marin. He has already been charged, I believe, for murder a few years ago and I don’t understand how it is possible that he is out. And there are a lot of families in Belize going through things like this and you never really understand it until supposed to do.”
This afternoon, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero provided a few details corroborating White’s account of what took place. He also confirmed that Edwin Marin was previously arrested when he ran afoul of the law. Our records reveal that Marin was charged with aggravated assault with a firearm in March 2020, following an incident when he opened fire on Vanessa Matus in Corozal Town. While she escaped unscathed, her attacker was arrested and later charged. Here’s ACP Romero, Regional Commander of Eastern Division.
“On September twenty-ninth, around 10:54 a.m., Corozal police visited a house in Corozal Town where they found two females with gunshot injuries. They were identified as Deysha Hill and Natasha Clarke. Information is that they were at the house when there was a domestic dispute with one Edwin Marin who pulled out a firearm and shot them both. They were taken to the hospital where both were pronounced dead. We are looking for Edwin Marin who fled from the area after the shooting.”
Reporter
“[Edwin] Marin, can you say when he was released from prison?”
Hilberto Romero
“I cannot say at this time. I need to check.”
Isani Cayetano
“This is seemingly someone who has run afoul of the law before. What background do you have on the suspect?”
Hilberto Romero
“I know he was charged before for one incident that is all I know. That is all we have on him at this time.”
Reporter
“Do you know the relationship between him and one of the victims?”
Hilberto Romero
“Yes, Deysha Hill has a child for him. They were in a relationship.”
Reporter
“Do you think that he might have fled across the border?”
Hilberto Romero
“We do not know at this time. All we know is that he fled from the area after the shooting.”
While the rest of the country celebrates Belize’s independence, one family is mourning after losing their loved one to gun violence on Saturday evening. Twenty-six-year-old Dornell Talbert was driving to his home in Double Head Cabbage Village when he was approached by a driver in a grey SUV, who proceeded to fire several shots in Talbert’s direction. Talbert was taken to the K.H.M.H. where he would succumb to his injuries. Here’s News Five’s Britney Gordon with the story.
Britney Gordon, Reporting
What should have been a day of celebrations ended in tragedy with the death of Dornell Talbert who was shot and killed in broad daylight. Like many other Belizeans that day, Talbert wanted to go see the carnival road march. He was on his way to his home in Double Head Cabbage to get ready for the occasion; but wouldn’t make it to his destination. Dornell’s grandmother, Rita Talbert, is still at a loss as to why he would be the target of such a heinous attack.
Rita Talbert
Rita Talbert, Grandmother of Deceased
“He’s a very handsome person. I never know he to get inna and no trouble with nobody. Just from work to home.”
Britney Gordon
“And what did he do for work?”
Rita Talbert
“Fisherman.”
Britney Gordon
“He worked at caye, right?”
Rita Talbert
“Yes.”
Britney Gordon
“So that day he was, he was going to work, and he was coming back?”
Rita Talbert
“No, he was going to a party. But then him a want go to the carnival. The police say he come and left from the party. But come home come change.”
Talbert was targeted in Scotland Halfmoon Village. It happened in the middle of the road, just a few steps away from a local barbershop. He was shot in his chest, the bullet exited through his shoulder. Police have several suspects in custody.
“On Saturday, the seventh day of September 2024, police responded to a shooting incident at Scotland Half Moon. Upon arrival, they learned that a male person had been shot and taken to the KHMH for treatment. Police visited the KHMH where they found Darrold Talbert with gunshot injuries and thereafter he was pronounced dead. Investigation revealed that Darrold Talbot was driving a vehicle in the area when another vehicle pulled up beside him and someone from that vehicle fired several shots towards him causing his fatal injuries. We have since recovered that vehicle and several suspects are in custody for this morning. Interviews continue at this time.”
Police believe that the incident stemmed from an ongoing rivalry in the River Valley area. According to Talbert’s family, he lived a simple life. He fished and spent time with his family as often as he could, working to build a home for himself.
Britney Gordon
“What kind of father was he?”
Rita Talbert
“He da a family father cuz he tek care of his kid.”
Britney Gordon
“What kind of dynamic did you guys have as a family?”
Rita Talbert
“We have a good relationship. No quarrels. No fight or nothing in the family.”
Dornell’s death is another hard blow to the family, who also lost a loved one not too long ago.
Rita Talbert
“Everybody start to cry, brukdown as she hear it about four o’clock it happen. Everybody start to bawl ad faint and thing cuz it hurt.”
Shelma Broaster
Shelma Broaster, Aunt of Deceased
“Cuz we just left from a funeral. We bury one a fi we friend. So we neva expect for get wa news like that. So it really rough. It rough.”
Neighbors and other residents say that until recently, Double Head Cabbage has always been a peaceful Village and that the spike in crime may be trickling in from neighboring villages. They recall the murder of Malcolm Reynolds who was shot and killed near the Boom and Hattieville junction in April. A feeling of unease has since settled within the surrounding areas. As for the Talbert family, they are mourning together and will continue to support each other as a family. Rita Talbert says she will remember her grandson fondly.
Reporter
“How would you want to remember him?”
Rita Talbert
“For his loving and kindness. He loving. He tell you he bring in some fish so me and my oldest daughter mi di come down fi go down soh and he tell mi oldest daughter, I got some fish fi you. Ih she but granny I left it down by mi stepfather so we did neva get the fish.”
Britney Gordon
“Did he used to do that often? Bring fish for you guys and his family?”
Rita Talbert
“Yes. Treat we good man. Ih give me money and all because when he meet me pon the road. He she weh happen granny? Ih she you want change then I tell he thank you and he give me fifty dollars. That da the last time I get money., this last trip when he come in. He give me the fifty dollars and I give my granddaughter ten and I kept forty. He mi quiet. No disrespectful. No disrespect nobody.”
A fifty-eight-year-old resident of Camalote Village was killed about a mile away from his home in that western community. Belhem Guzman, a father of three, was last seen on Thursday. His family grew concerned on Friday when they were unable to locate him. They made a Facebook post seeking public assistance to locate him and on Sunday morning a search party located his badly decomposed body off the side of the George Price Highway. Guzman’s body was found wrapped in a blanket with multiple stab and chop wounds. His murder has left the family and community in shock as they question who would want to hurt him. News Five’s Paul Lopez travelled west today. He filed the following report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
The lifeless body of fifty-eight-year-old Belhem Guzman was found wrapped in a blanket in some bushes off the side of the George Price Highway. His hands were tied behind his back. His feet were also bound. Investigators found multiple stab and chop wounds on his body.
Telford Guzman
Telford Guzman, Brother of Deceased
“He dah somebody weh guh dah my house everyday or when ih want to miss. Thursday one of my daughter took food for him around six o’clock and he was not home> So when I come in like around after nine ten, I understand that some food the deh for ah, so I decided to take some food for him. When I reach ih house, cause he nuh got electricity. So I usually use my phone light. When I shout after him he would answer woi. So I decided the night, I would not shout for him. When I start to spot about the light I didn’t see him in so I gone back home.”
The following day, Telford stopped by but did not find his brother at home. His daughters also passed by and did not find him at home. That’s when the family grew concerned and took to social media to seek public assistance with locating Belhem Guzman.
Telford Guzman
“He always been seen and when nobody respond back and say they don’t see him we get concerned, because when nobody the see him something wrong. And my sister said we have to start to look. We get out the Sunday morning and some pf us went all the way to Armenia, because he have a daughter live down the road and some people said this and that and we really couldn’t understand what happened. And about after twelve to one my sister call me back and said they ground the man. When she said they find the man, she couldn’t talk to me, because it sounded like a hollering, like deh the bawl. So I continue the call the phone, but my siter in law pick up the phone and said they found the man. I asked, dead or alive. She said, dead, the body done the decompose. So, we just gone pan the site and when I see the situation of the man I knew it was a terrible thing, that somebody. I believe it is young people, but I nuh the stress pan that. The man tie up in a blanket. He does carry his bedding out, those are not his bedding. So from the time we saw that we knew he was murdered and the situation he was in. I looked at him. I didn’t get a full scene, but what I understand he was tied up. I also get fuh understand that his neck was cut.”
Telford Guzman believes that his brother was killed in a senseless act perpetrated by a group of young men in the area. He described Belhem Guzman as free-spirited with a colorful personality. One video obtained by News Five shows the deceased in a jovial mood, singing.
Telford Guzman
“In the village here, the provoked him by calling him a little nick name then yeah he have an action. But it is not like his action was… He get so much damage in his life, hundreds of damage and he never try respond to any of them. People do him crazy things and he never tried challenge it or make noise. We know he was not a person of violence.”
Paul Lopez
“A tough guy and I remember a time when a snake bit his finger, he chopped off his own finger to save himself.”
Telford Guzman
“Right over there by those coconut tree, he was getting coconut and he said a snake bit him and he cut off one of his middle finger and deh bway does always tell ah dah cock spur stin ah, but I believe the man see the snake and do that.”
Today, Telford and other relatives and friends were inside the Camalote Cemetery preparing a tomb for Belhem Guzman’s burial.
Telford Guzman
“When we see that situation that is not knockdown, that is cruelty that dah murder. We the try keep piece and we wah do what we have to do and hope for a better day, that is all.”
Police are still working to ascertain a motive behind the murder of fifty-eight-year-old Belhem Guzman. Today, A.C.P Hilberto Romero told reporters that their investigation is yet to produce a suspect.
“Police visited Camalote Village and about one hundred and fifty feet off the highway they saw the lifeless body of a male person. He was identified as Belhem Guzman. He had chop wounds to his body. He was declared dead and transported to the medical facility. And investigation is being carried out at this time and we have no suspects at this time. He was last seen two days prior to his body being found.”
Reporter
“He is an elderly man, well known in the village. The family suspects that younger residents in the village attacked him.”
A.C.P Hilberto Romero
“We do not know at this time. The investigation is ongoing right now. No motive at this time.”
A nineteen-year-old woman is dead, and her twenty-two-year-old brother is hospitalized, following a motorcycle and vehicle collision in Santa Elena Town. Tamisha Jeal and her brother Keenan Wragg were travelling towards San Ignacio on a motorbike when the bike collided into a pickup truck. The incident left Tamisha with fatal injuries one day after her birthday. She graduated from Galen University only a couple months ago and was well on her way to becoming a wildlife veterinarian. News Five’s Paul Lopez tells us more.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Nineteen-year-old Tamisha Jeal and her brother Keenan Wragg were travelling towards San Ignacio on a motorbike when it collided into a pickup truck. The vehicle was attempting to make a left turn off the highway when the collision occurred. Both Tamisha and Keenan were flung off the motorbike. Tamisha’s injuries proved fatal. Sadly, her death came one day after her birthday. We spoke with Linda’s mother who is presently with Keenan at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital.
Linda Jeal
Linda Jeal, Mother of Deceased
“She has just turned nineteen on September seventh, so the family and I were out celebrating with her. My son had just turned twenty-two on September fourth, so we were doing one joint birthday celebration with granny, granddad, all of them. We decided to go home, and they stayed in San Ignacio and the vehicle had a blowout. So, they stayed, and a kind friend lent them the bike. I was getting ready for church, and I turned to my daughter, and I said I love you. I told my son I love you. I said I am going to church. They said, mom we are going to drop back the bike, because they loaned it to us. So, they got on the bike and when I was going into church I saw when the bike passed, and I waved. I didn’t know that would be the last time I would say goodbye to my daughter.”
As Linda Jeal explained it, the accident occurred while her children were on their way to return the motorbike to a friend. Keenan was in the driver’s seat. She says they were a short distance from the friend’s home, and they were not driving with great speed.
Linda Jeal
“He said and the vehicle coming in the opposite, direction, because they were going to San Ignacio, the vehicle coming from the opposite direction just turned and he said, mom I couldn’t stop. He said all I could do was brakes. And when he brakes, he said he used his right hand to grab his sister, but he said, he could hold her. He fell off the bike and she, I don’t know, was knocked by the vehicle. By the time I reached there from church she was already in the ambulance and the ambulance told me that I had to follow. I didn’t get to see her. I went up to the San Ignacio Hospital. I want to thank them; they did a great job. They came out every minute to tell us what was happening. They said they pumped our daughter’s heart for twenty minutes, but they couldn’t revive her.”
Tamisha Jeal graduated from Galen University in its 2024 class with an Associate Degree in Veterinary Technology. She graduated at the top of her class and was volunteering at the Belize Wildlife and Veterinary Clinic just outside of Georgeville. Her rubber boots, raincoat and field hat are all together at the clinic, a reminder to her colleagues of life’s fragility.
Isabelle Paquet-Durand
Dr. Isabelle Paquet-Durand, Director, Belize Wildlife & Referral Clinic
“This was definitely her strong interest. She was a first for me and an aspiring Belizean wildlife veterinarian that was going to take my roll eventually.”
Paul Lopez
“Is that unique for Belizeans?”
Dr. Isabelle Paquet- Durand
“Yes, we have few veterinarians in the country still and when it comes to wildlife it is an interest for some, but we don’t have a person yet in Belize that wants to take it on as a full-on profession. Her positive approach to life. She left us daily quotes on our board. So aside from being passionate about the environment and animals which is a rare gem to find she was a lovely human being, always concerned about everybody around here and brining up the spirits all day that she was here.”
Linda Jeal
“She had high honors. They recognized her at Galen. She had her whole future in front of her. W had applied to three different universities for her to further her education. She was the most beautiful, loving, young lady.”
According to Linda Jeal, both of her son’s arms were fractured in the incident. She says he has a great deal of experience with motorbikes and is a member of a biker’s group. Police say a notice of intended prosecution has been served upon both drivers.
“A Nissan Frontier was found at the scene and a Kawasaki motorcycle was seen with extensive damage. Information was that the Kawasaki ran into the pickup and crashed. As a result, Keenan Wragg was rushed to the hospital to receive treatment and he had a passenger with him, namely Tamisha Jeal and she was taken to the hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. An NIP has been served on both drivers. An investigation continues into this report.”
Police are investigating the mysterious circumstances under which seventeen-year-old Darrel Choc lost his life over the weekend. Choc was socializing in the company of two females in Dangriga and were consuming alcohol and marijuana when he suffered respiratory issues. They rushed him to the Southern Regional Hospital and, despite the efforts of medical staff, were unable to revive him. Here’s more from ACP Hilberto Romero.
“On Saturday, police visited the hospital where they found Darrel Choc who was pronounced dead at the hospital. Investigation revealed that Darrel Choc was at a bar with two females consuming alcohol beverages. Thereafter, they left the bar and went to the seaside where information is that they were smoking cannabis. Thereafter, Choc had difficulty breathing. He was taken to the hospital where he was unresponsive and succumbed to whatever else he had. We are awaiting a postmortem examination to determine the cause of death. No physical injuries were observed on him.”
Reporter
“Did he have any history of medical issues?”
Hilberto Romero
“He has no medical history so we are awaiting the postmortem results.”
Reporter
“And do you guys have maybe the marijuana to test if anything else was in it?”
Hilberto Romero
“No we don’t. They had smoked it at the seaside and then they ended up at thehospital.”
Reporter
“And will the police do a toxicology report?”
Hilberto Romero
“Yes, that is part of the investigation and those samples will be sent for testing.”
Attorney at Law, Norman Rodriquez is tonight speaking out against what he says is an abuse of police authority. Rodriquez is representing a Belize City man who has been charged for discharging a firearm in public. According to Rodriquez, one of his client’s family members was being attacked by a knife-wielding man. In response, his client reportedly pulled out his licensed firearm and fired a single shot to the ground. When police arrived on the scene, both the knife-wielding man and the individual who fired the shot was detained. Rodriquez contends that his client acted in a manner deemed appropriate to deescalate a situation that could have turned fatal. Rodriquez’s complaint, however, has to do with the manner in which the case is being handled by the police.
Norman Rodriquez, Attorney-at-law
“He was supposed to be brought to court for arraignment and when I was informed that the court book had to be sent back to the police station for amendment. My understanding is that the want to charge him under the Firearm Act which would have led him to not be granted bail under the Crime Control and Criminal Justice Act. So I waited and they brought him this afternoon. I was then informed that the facts does not support the charge, so they have to take him back to Queen Street. It is an abuse of process. It is an abuse of authority that the police is given. There is no right for them charge this man. He should be brought to court within a reasonable time. Yet they have delayed, in that they have gone to amend the book and now they are taking him back to the police station. I take issue with that because if we expect the remainder of the society to respect the police and its procedure they must adhere to the laws and rules that govern them. I mean you have no right to defend your family in a case where their life could have been taken? I mean the man had a knife and could have harmed her with it. This is what the family believes the police was wrong. They believe the man should have not been charged.”
The annual Carnival Road March was held without incident on Saturday as thousands of spectators turned out to cheer on the revelers who participated in the parade. This year saw a new route being taken for the carnival. While the police were on hand to ensure the safety of onlookers and revelers, there is one incident that has raised the ire of many. During the festive procession, a reveler from one of the mas bands is seen dancing lewdly with a little boy. The video which has gone viral has drawn heavy criticism from the public, it has also been condemned by the Ministry of Human Development and the National Committee for Families and Children. Earlier today, NCFC issued a statement admonishing the behavior of the reveler. The release goes on to say, “The Ministry of Human Development, Families and Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs and the National Commission for Families and Children unequivocally decry and condemn the recent inappropriate public display of a sexual nature involving a woman and a child. This incident, which occurred during the Carnival Road March on September 7th, has sparked significant concern among the public as it highlights a very troubling disregard for the safety and well-being of minors and the public in general. This lewd display involved a child in a manner that compromised his privacy and exposed him to undue scrutiny and potential harm. Such actions are unacceptable and undermine the trust that communities place in public events”. Commissioner of Police Chester Williams has also condemned the reprehensible act.
Five persons, including three women and two men, have been arrested and charged for their roles in the savage beatdown of a fifteen-year-old girl last week, following a mas camp here in Belize City. A video clip of the teenager, identified as Carly Smith, shows several women embroiled in a fight that ends with Smith being viciously and repeatedly kicked in the head. According to ACP Romero, the persons charged in connection with the incident were arraigned earlier today.
“Reference a video that surfaced on social media regarding a fight that happened on the fifth of September, 2024, an investigation was carried out and we have since arrested and charged five persons. They are Kimara Castillo, Kaylen Guerro, Christina Thurton who are charged for grievous harm and Felix Shepherd and Anigi Conorquie who were charged for abetment to commit grievous harm. They were to appear in court this morning.”
Reporter
“What caused the fight?”
Hilberto Romero
“Some provocation of a female. They made a report and so these persons were charged.”
Isani Cayetano
“Can you establish who were charged physically assaulting the minor and who were charged for recording the incident?”
Hilberto Romero
“The first three were mentioned, those were the ones that physically assaulted her. Those were charged for grievous harm, and the other two males for abetment to commit grievous harm.”
